New Delhi, May 25: They have a complete, balanced and consistent team. They topped the Points Table, won the First Qualifier and have entered the final as the first team
In all probability, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who tick all the boxes as a team, are hot favourites to win the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 championship.
From average cricket enthusiasts to several former players, many do have a gut feeling that KKR are inching towards clinching their third IPL title victory on coming Sunday in Chennai.
Among those who believe KKR are the hot favourites in the Sunday clash, include former Australia batter Matthew Hayden and former England batter Kevin Pietersen.
KKR will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final. SRH defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 36 runs in Qualifier 2 on Friday.
Earlier, in Qualifier 1, KKR toppled SRH by eight wickets in Ahmedabad to progress to the summit clash. Both teams have started their IPL campaign against each other in which Kolkata won the battle by four runs.
Hayden feels that KKR's spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy will make an impact in the match. The spinners share 36 wickets between them in the ongoing season for KKR.
"I'm very confident that KKR are going to win here, as having a few days off, having the ability to watch this match, and understanding what the strengths and weaknesses of Sunrisers Hyderabad are will be helpful. KKR, having defeated SRH, is going to have great momentum. I also just feel that the quality spin of Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy on the red clay is going to make a difference," Hayden said on Star Sports Cricket Live.
Pieterson added that Hyderabad's last defeat against Kolkata will also give the latter a lot of confidence in the final but feels happy for the Pat Cummins-led side to reach the title decider.
"I didn't like the way the Sunrisers threw in the towel the other evening in Ahmedabad, and I think it's going to put them on the back foot for the start on Sunday. The way they just finished that game off, Pat Cummins gave Travis Head the ball, and Shreyas Iyer just went bang, bang, bang. It'll give KKR a lot of confidence going into the finals knowing that they've already beaten SRH a couple of days ago," he said.
"So it's going to be really hard for the Sunrisers to get up, but I think they will because they won the SA20, so they know how to win. They've got a structure that knows how to win, and when you've got that belief within the franchise, that belief within the ownership, then momentum has its own way. I'm actually very, very happy that SRH got into the final just because of what they've done for the game of cricket in the last eight to nine weeks. I think it is absolutely right that the Sunrisers are in this final," Pietersen added.
Hayden further said that in the high-pressure final, the 'strong-hearted' team lifts the title.
“It's about just getting it right, really as simple as that. You've done all the hard work, traversed the country, been in and out of planes, buses, different hotels, and different beds. It's a really challenging, rigorous tournament, and only the strong-hearted get a chance to lift that trophy at the end. Luck will always play a little role in a sportsperson's life, no question, but more than anything, it's about making sure you're committed to your team on the day. What I saw from Rajasthan Royals was that while they were committed on one side of the match, they didn't fully believe when it came to batting. They felt the strain and tension, and they succumbed to it," the former opener said.
"On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad bounced back. It's not easy to bounce back in big matches after a loss. We were just talking about that with India and Pakistan. Finals are not about retreating into your shell. Finals are about sticking your chest out, owning your space, understanding your role, and going for the jugular. That's the mentality you need in a final. It's a hunt, and you need to be in it to win it,” Hayden added.
The IPL 2024 final will be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.
But cricket is a game of high uncertainty. In a T20 match, the margin for error is too minimum. The team that dominates the key moments are likely to clinch the victory. Despite KKR being title favourites at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, the other finalist may even surprise the KKR and lift IPL 2024 trophy. (With IANS support)
