The Indian Premier League is all set for a crunch final when Kolkata Knight Riders take on defending champions Chennai Super Kings at Chennai’s Chidambaram Stadium today.
Chennai have batted extremely well in the Eliminators and the Qualifiers as they stormed into the final with an 86-run win over Delhi Daredevils on Friday while KKR confirmed their final berth after their win against DD in the first play-off.
CSK have been in superb form with the bat, averaging more than 200 runs in the last three matches, and playing the final at home ground makes them the favourites of the day as they look to win their third consecutive IPL title.
CSK will not only be familiar with the pitch, but they will also have the crowd behind them.
On the other hand, KKR will be in a dilemma over selecting their playing 11 as there are a lot of opinions and options around. Yusuf Pathan’s return to form is instrumental for the Kolkata side.
Bangladeshi all-rounder Sakib al Hasan is expected to play in the final as he has been good with the new ball and also came in handy with the bat.
KKR captain Gautam Gambhir has been in great touch with the bat, but they won most of the matches for their bowlers and he too praised them after confirming their place in the final.
‘I think [Jaques] Kallis, [Sunil] Narine and Sakib have bowled really well in the tournament and especially in the past two days. [Laxmipathy] Balaji too has bowled very well for us,’ said Gambhir.
Meanwhile on Friday, Murali Vijay became the first Indian to hammer two centuries in the IPL when CSK defeated DD to get into the final.
The opener cracked four sixes and 15 fours in his 58-ball 113 as the defending champions posted a commanding 222-5 in their 20 overs before dismissing Delhi for 136 at the Chidambaram stadium.
Vijay, who also scored a hundred in the 2010 edition, was run out off the last ball of the innings while coming back for a second run, but not before helping his team post the highest total in the ongoing tournament.
Seamer Varun Aaron bagged two wickets, but conceded 63 runs in his four overs, the most by a bowler in an IPL innings.
Delhi never looked like achieving the stiff target and were bowled out in the 17th over, with spinners Ravichandran Ashwin taking three wickets and Shadab Jakati picking up two.
Sri Lankan Mahela
Jayawardene was the top-scorer for Delhi with 55 from 38 balls which contained two sixes and four boundaries.