Today’s IPL final will be a clash of two of the finest cricketing brains when MS Dhoni’s CSK take on Eoin Morgan-led Kolkata Knight Riders to bring down the curtain on Covid-hit tourney
CSK's MS Dhoni and KKR's Eoin Morgan
The Indian Premier League final on Friday will be a clash between two of cricket’s finest tacticians when MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings take on Eoin Morgan’s Kolkata Knight Riders.
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Between them they have won every major title on offer. Morgan led England to victory in the 2019 50-over World Cup. Dhoni masterminded India’s wins. He was India’s captain when they won the Twenty20 World Cup in 2007 and the 2011 50-over title.
Neither has been a big run-scorer in this year’s pandemic-hit tournament, which forced it to be moved to the United Arab Emirates. But Dhoni’s Chennai, three-time champions, have been the team to beat this year, the first to make the play-offs.
Dhoni, 40, who will be a mentor for India at the T20 World Cup starting Sunday, has been his usual unflappable self as the tension mounts. “Purely from the captaincy point of view who can handle the pressure best, probably has to be Dhoni,” admitted Gautam Gambhir, the former India batsman who led Kolkata to their two previous IPL triumphs.
Morgan’s Kolkata resumed the tournament seventh out of the eight teams, but went on to win five out of seven games to reach the play-offs.
‘Very clever’ Morgan
They knocked out Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore in the eliminator and then Delhi Capitals in the second qualifier on Wednesday to reach the final. Kolkata advisor David Hussey, the former Australian international, said Morgan has made a huge impact on the team’s results, aided by the break during the IPL’s suspension when a Coronavirus surge hit India in April.
“I truly believe that Morgan is captaining really well, he’s marshalling the troops, he’s tactically very clever. The bowling changes have been spot on. I think that’s contributed to our success this time around,” Hussey said after the win over Delhi.
Morgan made smart bowling choices on the slow UAE pitches with West Indies mystery spinner Sunil Narine as the attack kingpin. Opener Venkatesh Iyer has emerged as an unlikely batting hero, while Morgan has scored just 129 runs in 16 games.
Russell returns
Kolkata may be forced to leave Shakib Al Hasan out of the team and bring back Andre Russell, who is recovering from a hamstring injury. Bangladesh want to keep Shakib fresh for the T20 World Cup that starts in the UAE after the IPL.
Chennai are still smarting from their failure to reach the play-offs last season. But Dhoni says key players made use of their time to improve their performances. “That is the reason why we have come back strongly this season,” said the legendary Indian.
Head-to-head
CSK
16
KKR
8
KKR, the ace chasers
Kolkata Knight Riders have won six matches in the UAE while chasing. Interestingly, nine out of 12 fixtures at Dubai have been won by the team batting second in this IPL.
It’s 50:50
Neither CSK nor KKR have any venue advantage at the Dubai International Stadium with both teams winning 50 per cent of matches here in this IPL.
Ninth final for CSK
MS Dhoni’s team will be playing their ninth final in 12 editions [they were suspended from participating in two IPLs].
2014
The last time KKR played in an IPL final
Check out all the latest news and updates on IPL 2021
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