It comes down to one match to decide an IPL that has stretched across two continents and several months. Chennai Super Kings face the form team since the restart of the IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders in what promises to be a blockbuster final.
Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 15 October | Dubai International Stadium | 16:00
To Win Match
Super Kings 92/100
Tie 25/1
Knight Riders 92/100
Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings were the first team to secure a spot in the playoffs and first to clinch a place in the final but their form is a bit of a concern for them.
CSK went off the boil in the latter stages of the round-robin but did enough to get past Delhi Capitals in the first qualifier, however, their best players aren’t in tip-top form for the big game.
Faf du Plessis heads the run-scoring charts for the Super Kings but has only passed 50 once in his last five innings.
CSK should be delighted with the uncovering of several hot new Indian talents with the likes of MS Dhoni and Du Plessis running out of time in the game.
Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR left it late to reach the playoffs securing their spot with a victory in their final group stage match, but they have come good at the right time and ride a four-match winning streak coming into the final.
The Knight Riders will be without superstar allrounder Andre Russell but will be bolstered by the form of fellow West Indian Sunil Narine who was the match-winner in the second qualifier.
Overseas players Lockie Ferguson and Shakib Al Hasan have also made telling contributions and skipper Eoin Morgan should complete an all-star foreign quartet for the final.
Venkatesh Iyer and Shubman Gill have struck up a terrific opening partnership in this IPL and their efforts could just give KKR the edge.
Verdict: Kolkata Knight Riders 92/100
You can’t write off CSK in a final but KKR have all the form indicators to suggest they will win the trophy.
