IPL 2024 BIG FINAL, Kolkata Knight Riders vs SunRisers Hyderabad – Match preview and result prediction

After over 70 matches and two months of non-stop cricket, the D-Day has arrived - the IPL 2024 final between Kolkata Knight Riders and SunRisers Hyderabad will be played at the Chepauk stadium in Chennai on Sunday (May 26). Two teams on the top of the points table have crossed all obstacles to reach the summit clash, where each will fight for the ultimate glory. Here is the match preview and result prediction of the KKR vs SRH IPL 2024 finale.

Match Preview

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Table-toppers KKR were the first to qualify for thisyear’sfinal by beating SRH in Qualifier 1 - for the second time this season.

Shreyas Iyer-led side has played some exciting cricket this season; from posting massive first-inning totals to beating the top sides, some by close margins, KKR did it all in IPL 2024.

GautamGambhir’sinclusion in the backroom staff did wonders for the former winners, chasing their third IPL trophy, having last won it ten years ago. Although PhilSalt’sabsence was said to dent their momentum,Afghanistankeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz provided stability and confidence with his handy cameos in brief outings thus far.

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Besides a solid batting order, AndreRussell’sperformance throughout has been the x-factor for KKR.

Also, IPL’smost expensive buy ever, Starc, coming good with the ball with the playoffs approaching isa greatsign for the team. VarunChakravarthy’sform will beanother bonus for the team at Chepauk.

On the other hand, PatCummins’SunRisers Hyderabad is the most-feared side this season. From a powerhouse batting attack to a young all-rounder Nitish Reddy making headlines toCummins’captaincy and the teamsseam attack of Indian bowlers, SRH have their bases covered heading into the crucial IPL clash this year.

The opening pair of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma will have all eyeballs on them, with the Chennai crowd hoping for a blockbuster start. Although AidenMarkram'sformis a worry forthe Orange Army, HeinrichKlaasen’spurple patch gives them confidence down the order.

SRH’sUSP has been their Indian bowling attack, including Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan and Shahbaz Ahmed, who starred in the knockout against Rajasthan Royals.

Two-time champions KKR leads the head-to-head tally against SRH by 18-9.

Given the mega clash will be played at the Chepauk, where usually the spinners get excellent purchase, KKR, with the mystery duo of Varun and Narine, will keep theirside’snose in front against SRH.

Predicted Playing XIs of both teams –

KKR - Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy

SRH - Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Abdul Samad, Pat Cummins (c), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat and T Natarajan