NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Indian Premier League 2024 final between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on Sunday, former India cricketer
Aakash Chopra
has highlighted key KKR players to watch out for.
KKR will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the
IPL 2024 final
on Sunday in Chennai. They have won both their previous encounters against SRH this year and aim to repeat their success in the summit clash.
Chopra praised KKR’s
Varun Chakaravarthy
as the standout spinner in IPL 2024.
The mystery spinner has taken 20 wickets at an economy rate of 8.18 in 13 innings this season.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra highlighted Varun Chakaravarthy as the bowler to watch in the final.
"Varun Chakaravarthy has the specialty that he turns the ball. He comes from Chennai and understands this ground and pitch very well. He has an excellent web of spin. Varun Chakaravarthy has been the best spinner this season," Chopra said.
Chopra also pointed out
Mitchell Starc
and
Harshit Rana
as crucial bowlers for KKR.
"Mitchell Starc vs Travis Head - a mouth-watering clash one more time. He might not take as many wickets as he took in the last match but it's Mitchell Starc - big finals, you have got to back the guy. Harshit Rana has the slower one, bouncer, yorker, and the cricketing smarts are outstanding," Chopra explained.
Chopra believes
Sunil Narine
could be KKR's most critical player in the final.
"When you look towards KKR, you remember the 2012 and 2014 seasons, and you remember Sunil Narine's immense contribution, and this is exactly the same. Sunil Narine is the most valuable player this time as well and will be in focus. Firstly, bowling - he bowls very well and you will expect him to do even better on this pitch," he noted.
"Secondly, the way he is batting. He hasn't scored runs against this team thus far, got run out in the first match and couldn't score too many runs in Qualifier 1 as well, but he is a dangerous player. So everyone will have to be wary of him. Narine has had a massive contribution to take this team here. If he has got them till here, taking them forward will be in his hands," the cricketer-turned-commentator added.
Chopra also has high expectations for
Andre Russell
in the final. "This is Andre Russell's first final. GOAT of T20 cricket across the globe, even in this league, but has never played the final. You will expect from him here because his numbers against this team are very good. He is picking up wickets now and scored a fifty the last time these two teams played in Kolkata," he observed.
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