The Chennai Super Kings and the Kolkata Knight Riders are all set for the big showdown in Dubai with both the sides ready to give it all for ultimate glory.
MS Dhoni’s Kings have come back strong after last year’s terrible season while Eoin Morgan’s Knights will be back in contention for the premier league title after seven years.
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Here are key players to look out for Friday night, who could bring it home for their teams.
Sunil Narine – Kolkata Knight Riders
The KKR veteran was one of the key playmakers of Kolkata’s 2012 and 2014 title wins and he’s back to his winning ways for the side in 2021.
Narine’s role in Morgan’s side has been extremely effective during the UAE leg of the tournament, be it during the powerplay and death overs as a bowler or as a pinch-hitter against RCB in the playoff eliminator.
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Ruturaj Gaikwad – Chennai Super Kings
The Chennai Super Kings opener has had a breakout season in 2021, only his second in the Indian Premier League, so far with more than 600 runs under his bat including four half-centuries and one century.
Gaikawad is only 24 runs away from winning the Orange Cap for this season, which is currently held by Punjab Kings’ KL Rahul. So don’t be surprised if the 22-year-old opening batsman from Pune comes out all guns blazing in Dubai.
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Shubman Gill – Kolkata Knight Riders
The opener from Punjab may have not been included in the national side for the upcoming T20 World Cup, but he sure is making a case for himself in the Indian Premier League.
Gill has played 16 matches so far this season and scored 427 runs, which includes two half centuries. His 46-run knock against the Delhi Capitals was crucial for his side in the second qualifier to bag a late win in the 20th over.
Gill will be targeting CSK bowlers early on to get the run rate going in partnership with his fellow opener Venkatesh Iyer.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni – Chennai Super Kings
He may not have huge numbers on the 2021 IPL stats sheet to boast about but cricket analysts know better than to simply rule out Dhoni before it’s actually over.
Dhoni hasn’t had a great tournament with the bat but has been successful in coming in clutch in multiple match-winning moments, the last was against the Delhi Capitals when he hit 18 runs in six balls to bring it home for CSK.
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Venkatesh Iyer – Kolkata Knight Riders
We don’t mean to jinx it but Iyer has been in the form of his life in the short IPL career he’s had so far.
The 26-year-old bloke has only played 9 matches in the Indian Premier League, all in this season with most of them in the UAE, and scored a blistering 320 runs so far.
He’s hit any and every bowler all around the park at a strike rate of 125 and an average of 40.
Iyer so far has three fifties to his name and a total of 43 boundaries, 32 fours and 11 sixes.
A focused Iyer will be looking to wrap up his debut IPL season in style, which makes him hot property for next year’s auction.
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Ravindra Jadeja – Chennai Super Kings
Jadeja is Chennai’s answer to Kolkata’s Sunil Narine.
While not as efficient of a spinner as Narine, Jadeja adds balance to his team through his overall performance with the bat, ball and on the field.
On a good day, Jadeja is also likely to land a couple wickets, pitting him against Narine in a war of spinners in Dubai.
He has scored 227 runs this season at a strike rate of more than 145, which makes him a crucial component for CSK when it comes to pushing the asking run rate lower.
