(Credit PTI)
“With KKR having won an IPL in Chennai, the pressure will be different.,” said Raina.
The Final of the Indian Premier League 2024 will witness Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad battling it out at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 26.
In a previous encounter during Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2024, KKR triumphed over SRH to secure their place in the finals. Opting to bat first, SRH faced formidable challenges from the KKR bowlers. Chennai’s own, Suresh Raina, drawing from his extensive experience playing at Chepauk, has advised Pat Cummins and the SRH team to adhere to their strategy of batting first.
Both teams boast formidable batting lineups, arguably among the strongest in IPL 2024. This was showcased when Hyderabad posted the highest-ever IPL total of 287 runs, followed closely by Kolkata’s 277 against Mumbai Indians. Raina emphasized the significance of spin bowling, highlighting that eight overs of spin from both sides will be pivotal on the Chennai track, known to favor spinners.
“Sunrisers should back their batting first approach and put runs on the board, but the eight overs of spin will be crucial. With KKR having won an IPL in Chennai, the pressure will be different. The key point for SRH is Pat Cummins who has already won the World Cup, he knows how to keep the dressing room running. You follow the process, you are switched on for the finals, the players know their roles, and everything will be organized,” Raina told Jio Cinema.
SRH has been defeated twice by KKR in the ongoing 2024 league matches.
It’s noteworthy that both teams have clinched the coveted IPL trophy twice in their history. KKR emerged victorious in 2014, while SRH last lifted the title in 2016. Despite Shreyas Iyer’s team finishing atop the points table, Cummins’s squad secured the second spot. During the league stages, the Men-in-Orange encountered the Purple camp twice, suffering defeat on both occasions, setting the stage for an eagerly anticipated showdown.
