Kevin Pietersen thinks KKR has a big advantage against the Orange Army going into the title match because of their recent performance against them and their spin attack.
In Sunday’s IPL 2024 final in Chennai, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will have an advantage over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), according to former England batting ace Kevin Pietersen.
The teams have already played each other twice this season. At Eden Gardens, KKR secured a thrilling four-run victory in the league stage. Even when the teams faced off in Qualifier 1 earlier in the week, the Knights easily defeated Hyderabad by eight wickets to advance to the finals and earn the distinction of being the first team to do so.
“I think the Sunrisers will be starting Sunday from a disadvantage because of the way they gave up the other evening in Ahmedabad. I didn’t like that. He added on Star Sports Cricket Live, “The way they just wrapped up that game, Pat Cummins gave Travis Head the ball, and Shreyas Iyer just went bang, bang, bang.”
That the Sunrisers are in this championship game is correct: Kevin Pietersen
Pietersen thinks that in order to upset KKR and win their second championship in the history of the lucrative league, the Pat Cummins-led team must perform incredibly well.
The fact that KKR defeated SRH a few days prior to the finals would instill great confidence in them. It would therefore be difficult for the Sunrisers to rise, but I believe they will because they are experienced winners having won the SA20,” he continued.
The seasoned cricket player thinks the winners of the 2016 edition are capable of winning and that now, after putting in a strong season-long effort, they are ready to compete for the prized trophy.
Their winning structure is well-established, and momentum always prevails when there is a sense of ownership and franchise among its members. Because of what SRH has done for the game of cricket over the previous eight or nine weeks, I’m overjoyed that they’ve advanced to the final. He went on, “I believe the Sunrisers’ inclusion in this final is appropriate.
He emphasizes the importance of the toss, but KKR’s winning mentality and all-around strength make them the slight favorites to win the IPL on Sunday.
It’s a 50/50 toss. I believe that you ought to be ready in case dew doesn’t appear as well as take into account the probability of it. It all comes down to your attitude and level of confidence going into this fixture. Given their style of play, their resounding victory in the first qualifier, and their preparation over the previous three or four days, that’s where I believe KKR have an advantage,” Pietersen said.
The 43-year-old is confident in KKR’s spin campaign including Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine. He also cited Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer leading their in-form top order.
Additionally, have a look at their main players, which include Sunil Narine at the top of the order, Venkatesh Iyer’s batting form, captain Shreyas Iyer’s undefeated fifty in the most recent game, and their outstanding bowlers, particularly Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine. Their team is packed with players who can win games. But Sunrisers Hyderabad has some good players too. They will make strong opponents if they remain united and retain their upbeat, cheerful attitude,” he remarked.
Also Read: Bhuvneshwar Kumar Confident of IPL Victory in Final
This IPL season, KKR and SRH were the two teams who stood out the most. The Hyderabad-based team had to upset Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the second qualifier to secure their berth versus Kolkata, even though KKR won the first qualifier and finished first in the standings. Pietersen commended Daniel Vettori, the head coach of SRH, for providing direction that led to his team’s outstanding achievement.
“Daniel Vettori has shown excellent leadership. Even though he is modest, calm, and quiet, when he talks, everyone pay attention. Though he doesn’t say much, he is constantly upbeat and supports each and every one of his players. Pietersen concluded, “So, I think Sunrisers’ man-management this year has been outstanding because of him, and that will prepare them well for a massive battle on Sunday.”
India
