Two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will lock horns against Chennai Super Kings to match their tally of trophies in the grand final of IPL on Friday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Both CSK and KKR have beaten Delhi Capitals (DC) to make it to the title clash.
CSK have scripted a complete turnaround this season, being the first team to make it to the playoffs. MS Dhoni’s late flourish against Delhi to win the match in the Qualifier 1 brought back a lot of memories.
It's Finale Day! Time to shower Whistles and 💛! Are we ready Super fans? 🥳#CSKvKKR #IPL2021Final #WhistlePodu #Yellove 🦁 pic.twitter.com/wYn865035A
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) October 15, 2021
CSK boast a far superior IPL final experience, but KKR have never lost one. The Yellow Brigade will play out of their skins to give MS Dhoni, who is likely playing his last IPL season, a superlative finish.
On the other, with 11 runs needed off 21 balls to win, KKR made a mess of themselves to take the equation to 6 off the last two balls, before a Rahul Tripathi six took them over the line. The Knight Riders’ middle-order was put to test and they faltered once again with skipper Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik, Shakib Al Hasan, and Sunil Narine all getting out for ducks.
To the time when we played CSK in an #IPL Final 😍#KKR #CSKvKKR #AmiKKR #KorboLorboJeetbo #আমিKKR #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/8DskRyLaia
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) October 15, 2021
KKR will have to address a lot of questions ahead of the all-important final against CSK. Andre Russell is said to have been bowling on the sidelines before the second qualifier on Wednesday and could be in the mix for the final. If he is available for selection, it will be a massive booster for KKR.
CSK vs KKR – Head to Head
| MATCHES | KKR | CSK |
| 25 | 8 | 16 |
Pitch Report
Both KKR and CSK will come out to win the toss and bowl first. Nine of the 12 fixtures in Dubai have been won by the chasing side this season.
Furthermore, all of KKR’s six wins in UAE have come in run chases, while CSK’s five losses throughout this season have come when they’ve had to set a target.
CSK vs KKR – Predicted Playing XI
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c&wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan (c), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Shakib Al Hasan/Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy
CSK vs KKR – Match Prediction – Who will win the match?
Neither team has a particular advantage at the venue, with both winning and losing 50 percent of their games there this season. However, the CSK will have an edge having been at this stage a lot more than KKR.
They know how to handle pressure with MS Dhoni at the helm and emerge as winners.