Cummins and Co. scheme to ruin Kolkata's celebration.
Cummins and Co. scheme to ruin Kolkata's celebration.
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| Before the final, KKR captain and SRH captain Pat Cummins stand with the IPL '24 trophy. Image sourced from Facebook |
Only five days after suffering a crushing defeat, Australia's skipper Pat Cummins, who won the World Cup, will need to pull off a remarkable comeback to win another major championship on Sunday when his Sunrisers Hyderabad take on Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League final.
Hyderabad qualified for their third IPL final on Friday after defeating Rajasthan Royals by 36 runs in the last qualifier held in Chennai.
However, that victory followed Kolkata's humiliating eight-wicket loss to the reigning champions on Tuesday in the first play-off in Ahmedabad.
In the most profitable T20 event globally, Hyderabad's solitary victory came in 2016 under the leadership of another Australian, David Warner.
However, that victory followed Kolkata's humiliating eight-wicket loss to the reigning champions on Tuesday in the first play-off in Ahmedabad.
In the most profitable T20 event globally, Hyderabad's solitary victory came in 2016 under the leadership of another Australian, David Warner.
Fast bowler Cummins, who cost Hyderabad $2.5 million at the IPL auction, helped Australia win the ODI World Cup and the world Test championship last year.
"It's been a great couple of years but I haven't captained any T20 cricket before this series, so I wasn't too sure what to expect," Cummins told the media.
"Obviously quite fast-paced, the T20 game, but I think, drawing on particularly the ODI captaincy over here last year didn't feel too far off."
"It's been a great couple of years but I haven't captained any T20 cricket before this series, so I wasn't too sure what to expect," Cummins told the media.
When Cummins and the Australians defeated India in the world's largest cricket stadium, Ahmedabad, in November, in the 50-over final, millions of hearts were broken.
Cummins is a "very practical guy, very humble, very empathetic with his fellow team-mates and coaching staff," according to assistant coach Simon Helmot of Hyderabad.
"He is interested in statistics and, under certain circumstances, can obtain the information he needs to face a specific opponent. Never wastes time in team meetings; today's meeting lasted for thirty-five seconds," he informed reporters.
Mitchell Starc, a fellow Australian who plays swiftly for Kolkata and rattled Hyderabad's top order in the first qualifier, will stand in Cummins' way.
Quick with the left arm When Kolkata paid $2.98 million for Starc's services in December, he surpassed Cummins as the most expensive player in IPL history.
Starc's 3-34 performance on Tuesday, which included bowling Travis Head, the opener for Hyderabad and another Australian, for a duck, validated the expenditure.
Kolkata the team to beat
Kolkata, captained by Shreyas Iyer of India, has been the team to beat throughout the competition and finished first in the 10-team league phase with 20 points.
Kolkata added Gautam Gambhir as a coach in addition to the significant acquisition of Starc, as the former Indian batsman had guided the squad to two titles in 2012 and 2014.
The last time Kolkata competed in a final at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, they defeated hometown team Chennai Super Kings to win their maiden championship.
"I think he knows a great deal about the rules of the game. About Gambhir's presence, Iyer remarked, "He has won two titles and his strategies have been spot on."
"He gives the team a lot of cream, so hopefully we can keep going."With all-rounder Sunil Narine elevated to begin the innings and leading their batting assault with 482 runs, including a century, Kolkata has only lost three games this season.
Additionally, quick bowler Harshit Rana and spinner Varun Chakravarthy have combined for 37 wickets.
Hyderabad's left-handed opening duo of Head and Abhishek Sharma, who have given their club numerous great starts, will pose a threat against Kolkata's bowlers, though.
Head is currently ranked fourth in the IPL batting standings, trailing only Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (741), with 567 runs, including four fifty-score innings.
Abhishek, 23, has amassed 482 runs at a punishing strike rate of over 207, earning him the moniker "future star" for India.
Hyderabad's left-handed opening duo of Head and Abhishek Sharma, who have given their club numerous great starts, will pose a threat against Kolkata's bowlers, though.
Head is currently ranked fourth in the IPL batting standings, trailing only Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (741), with 567 runs, including four fifty-score innings.
Abhishek, 23, has amassed 482 runs at a punishing strike rate of over 207, earning him the moniker "future star" for India.
HIGHLIGHTS
***In the 27 games that Kolkata and Hyderabad have played in the tournament's history, Kolkata has prevailed 17 times while Hyderabad has only won nine times, with one match ending in a tie.
***When final appearances are taken into account, Hyderabad has only won once (2016) in two appearances, while Kolkata has won twice (2012) and 2014 in three attempts.
***As of 2014, Kolkata is the only side to have successfully chased a 200-run goal in an IPL final.
Rinku Singh of Kolkata, one of India's four traveling reserves, is the only member of the extended 19-member India team for the T20 World Cup 2024 who will represent the country in the IPL final.
***When final appearances are taken into account, Hyderabad has only won once (2016) in two appearances, while Kolkata has won twice (2012) and 2014 in three attempts.
***As of 2014, Kolkata is the only side to have successfully chased a 200-run goal in an IPL final.
Rinku Singh of Kolkata, one of India's four traveling reserves, is the only member of the extended 19-member India team for the T20 World Cup 2024 who will represent the country in the IPL final.
