The showdown of IPL 2024 is on the horizon, with the Kolkata Knight Riders, who have already won the championship twice, gearing up to face Pat Cummins’ Sunrisers Hyderabad this Sunday at the M Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Knight Riders have shown exceptional performance throughout the tournament, securing the top position in the league stage and defeating SRH in the first qualifier. Conversely, Cummins’ team has consistently performed, securing their spot in the final by beating the Rajasthan Royals on Friday.
In their encounters this season, the team led by Shreyas Iyer won both times against their upcoming opponents.
Matthew Hayden, the legendary Australian opener, has thrown his support behind KKR for winning their third IPL title. He believes that the spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine will play a pivotal role for the team on the challenging pitch of Chepauk.
Hayden expressed his confidence in KKR’s victory, highlighting the advantage of their rest days, keen observation of the match, and understanding of SRH’s strengths and weaknesses. During an interview with Star Sports, he emphasized the momentum KKR has from defeating SRH and the critical impact that Narine and Chakaravarthy’s quality spin could have on the game, particularly on the red clay pitch.
The ex-CSK captain also reflected on the challenges of playing in the IPL final, stating that despite the challenges and the role of luck, the ultimate determinant is the commitment to the team.
He also analyzed the qualifier 2 match between RR and SRH, noting that the Rajasthan Royals succumbed to the pressure during batting. At the same time, SRH made a commendable comeback after a loss, showcasing resilience in crucial matches.
Kolkata previously won its first title at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium by defeating the Chennai Super Kings, and its second victory was against the Punjab Kings.