CSK vs KKR, IPL 2021 Final: Chennai eye 4th title underneath MS Dhoni, Kolkata hope for repeat of 2012

The longest season of the Indian Premier League (performed over 7 months as a result of Covid pandemic) is lastly going to culminate within the ultimate in Dubai on Friday evening as Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders get able to lock horns as soon as once more in a summit conflict to resolve the winner of the 2021 season on Dussehra.

Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders had beforehand performed the IPL 2012 ultimate through which Gautam Gambhir’s group beat MS Dhoni’s aspect to elevate their maiden title on the MA Chidambaram Stadium on May 27.The Knight Riders shall be hoping for a similar and look to repeat historical past after they come up in opposition to Dhoni’s group but once more on October 15. The 2012 ultimate was performed in Chennai’s residence floor however this time round there shall be no such benefit for the yellow brigade in Dubai.ADVANTAGE CSK IN DUBAI?The Super Kings although, can have the benefit of getting extra expertise on this floor as in comparison with the Knight Riders. CSK performed 4 video games in Dubai out of which they received 2 whereas KKR performed simply 2 matches, profitable one.Even final yr when IPL was shifted to the UAE, CSK performed extra video games than KKR in Dubai. Dhoni’s group received 4 of the 7 video games performed in Dubai right here whereas KKR received 2 of the three they performed in Dubai.Overall, Chennai Super Kings have received 6 out of the 11 video games in Dubai whereas KKR have received 3 out of 5. They performed 1 sport in opposition to one another at this venue which CSK received comfortably (by 6 wickets) in opposition to KKR within the league stage.CSK vs KKR: TEAM FORMCSK got here into the knockouts on the again of three successive defeats however they introduced their marketing campaign again on monitor by beating Delhi Capitals within the first Qualifier to get a direct entry into the ultimate. The group and its gamers know learn how to win the large video games when all the pieces is on the road for them and shall be hoping to do the identical within the summit conflict one final time.KKR alternatively, have made one of many best comebacks in IPL historical past this season. They misplaced 5 of the 7 video games performed in India earlier than the Covid-forced postponement in April-May and dropped all the way down to seventh on the factors desk.But issues fully modified after they landed within the UAE as head coach Brendon McCullum gave his group the license to interrupt the shackles, play with a free thoughts and specific themselves which is precisely what the gamers did underneath Eoin Morgan.They emerged victorious of their subsequent 7 video games out of 9 and have become the third group in IPL historical past after CSK and Sunrisers Hyderabad to succeed in the ultimate after profitable the Eliminator and Qualifier 2. McCullum’s ways mixed with the emergence of all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer have been the 2 main causes behind KKR’s resurgence this season.DHONI vs MORGANThis is the primary time in IPL historical past that two 50-over World Cup-winning captains will face off in a ultimate. MS Dhoni, who lead India to victory within the 2011 World Cup, shall be up in opposition to Eoin Morgan, who was the final to elevate the coveted ODI trophy in England two years in the past.Both captains are fairly related in nature and are identified for his or her cool and calm manner. But what Dhoni has over Morgan is the expertise of taking part in and profitable extra finals.Dhoni has received each main title he has led in, that features all three ICC trophies – 2007 T20 World Cup, 2013 Champions Trophy, 2011 World Cup – and three IPL trophies in 2010, 2011 and 2018.Morgan alternatively, has one World Cup title in his cabinet as captain and one T20 WC trophy as a participant. But he neither has performed nor has led in as many finals as Dhoni which might make a distinction on Friday evening in Dubai.Morgan is as quiet and as unexpressive as Dhoni even in testing occasions and it could be a contest of two ticking brains attempting to gauge the following transfer in what guarantees to be a mouth-watering three-hour battle.CSK vs KKR HEAD-TO-HEAD BATTLEChennai Super Kings will certainly head into the IPL 2021 ultimate because the favourites, having received each occasions in opposition to Kolkata Knight Riders within the league stage. CSK lead KKR 16:9 within the head-to-head file and 2-1 within the UAE.Dhoni’s group has received 5 of the final six video games in opposition to Dinesh Karthik and Morgan’s KKR.But the Knight Riders can take confidence from the truth that they’ve a 100% file in IPL finals, having received each occasions they featured within the summit conflict in 2012 and 2014. CSK alternatively, have misplaced 5 of the 8 IPL finals they’ve performed until date.CSK vs KKR: TEAM NEWSChennai Super Kings have all of their first-team gamers obtainable for choice and are anticipated to play the identical XI that defeated Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 1 in Dubai earlier this week. Ambati Rayudu’s type stays the one concern for Dhoni and Stephen Fleming, with the 36-year-old averaging simply over 28 this season within the middle-order.Kolkata Knight Riders may also discipline an unchanged lineup, which has clicked for them like a well-oiled machine within the final two knockout video games.All-rounder Andre Russell’s health stays unclear however KKR have that space coated as Shakib Al Hasan has proved a more-than-worthy alternative for the maverick West Indian within the final 4 video games.Morgan and McCullum shall be in an enormous dilemma on Friday night if Russell’s hamstring damage heals fully and he’s declared match to play as then it could power them to go away out the in-form Shakib and herald a participant who hasn’t performed since limping out of KKR’s league match in opposition to the Super Kings on September 22.