The iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is gearing up to host the much-anticipated final of the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday, May 26. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will lock horns in what promises to be a thrilling climax to the T20 cricketing extravaganza.
As the stage is set for the grand finale, the Kolkata Knight Riders hold a historical advantage over Sunrisers Hyderabad. Led by the charismatic Shreyas Iyer, KKR has triumphed in 18 out of the 27 encounters against SRH, making them the favorites on paper. The Sunrisers, on the other hand, have managed to carve out only nine victories against the aggressive two-time IPL champions. This statistical edge could provide KKR with a psychological boost as both teams vie for the coveted trophy.
The ground staff at MA Chidambaram Stadium has opted for a red-soil pitch for the high-stakes final, a surface known for being more favorable to the batsmen. This decision stands in stark contrast to the black-soil pitch used during Qualifier 2, where scoring became increasingly challenging as the match progressed, resulting in a spinner-dominated game. Sunday’s outing promises a different narrative, encouraging fans to expect a batting feast.
In the lead-up to the final, KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer spoke candidly about the pitch conditions. “I feel the pitch is completely different from what they played yesterday,” Iyer stated during the pre-match press conference. “It’s a red soil (pitch) and yesterday, if I’m not wrong, it was a black-soil wicket.
. We don’t know how the wicket is going to play tomorrow, and also looking at the match from the TV, we felt the dew factor would play a great role, but it didn’t and the ball started spinning.”
Despite this lack of clarity regarding how the dew factor might influence the game, the anticipation surrounding the final is palpable. The choice of a red-soil pitch could mean that batsmen from both sides will flourish, making for an electrifying contest.
KKR’s likely playing XI showcases a blend of experience and young talent. The squad includes:
– Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
– Sunil Narine
– Venkatesh Iyer
– Shreyas Iyer (c)
– Rinku Singh
– Andre Russell
– Ramandeep Singh
– Mitchell Starc
– Vaibhav Arora
– Harshit Rana
– Varun Chakaravarthy
– Anukul Roy
– Manish Pandey
– Nitish Rana
– Srikar Bharat
– Sherfane Rutherford
– Dushmantha Chameera
– Angkrish Raghuvanshi
– Sakib Hussain
– Suyash Sharma
– Allah Ghazanfar
– Chetan Sakariya
On the other side, Sunrisers Hyderabad will field a formidable lineup as well, aiming to turn their luck around in the finals. Their squad comprises:
– Travis Head
– Abhishek Sharma
– Rahul Tripathi
– Nitish Reddy
– Aiden Markram
– Heinrich Klaasen (wk)
– Abdul Samad
– Pat Cummins (c)
– Bhuvneshwar Kumar
– Jaydev Unadkat
– T Natarajan
– Umran Malik
– Sanvir Singh
– Glenn Phillips
– Mayank Markande
– Shahbaz Ahmed
– Vijayakanth Viyaskanth
– Washington Sundar
– Mayank Agarwal
– Anmolpreet Singh
– Upendra Yadav
– Jhatavedh Subramanyan
– Fazalhaq Farooqi
– Marco Jansen
– Akash Maharaj Singh
The tactical decision to use the red-soil pitch is expected to play a significant influence in the game’s outcome. MA Chidambaram Stadium has historically been spin-friendly, but the red-soil pitch is likely to deteriorate slower than its black-soil counterpart, potentially reducing the impact of the spinners as the game progresses.
Adding another layer of complexity is the unpredictable Chennai weather. While no rain is forecasted for the day of the final, weather remains a factor that could unexpectedly influence proceedings.
As fans prepare for this enthralling end to IPL 2024, the focus will not only be on the star performers but also on how effectively both teams adapt to the pitch conditions. Whether the batsmen will dominate or if the bowlers will find a way to exploit the conditions, remains to be seen. This high-voltage encounter is sure to be a fitting finale for a season that has offered non-stop cricketing action and drama.
