IPL 2024: Predicting KKR’s playing for the final clash against SRH

Kolkata Knight Riders became the first team to make it to the finals of the Indian Premier League 2024 after their comprehensive win against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 1st qualifier. It has been an almost flawless campaign for the two-time IPL winners, who will want to win it for the third time.

Shreyas Iyer has played one final before when he was leading the Delhi Capitals side in 2020 and eventually lost to the Mumbai Indians. This year the 29-year-old will want to go a step ahead and capture the title.

One of the biggest plus points for KKR this season has been the return to form of their old guards, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell. The two West Indian stars have dazzled both with the bat and ball to ensure KKR reach the summit clash. The return to form of Mitchell Starc is another bonus as the left-arm pacer was lethal with the ball in the previous game against SRH.

Here is the Likely KKR XI for the Final match against Sunrisers Hyderabad

Top Order – Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sunil Narine, and Venkatesh Iyer

Afghanistan star Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been a welcome addition to the team since the departure of Phil Salt. The youngster showed how dangerous he is with his handy cameo in the first qualifier game of the IPL 2024 season against Hyderabad. Sunil Narine has been at his best with the bat this season and has provided his team with the much-needed fast starts in the powerplay overs. The veteran star who turns 36 on the day of the final has also been brilliant with the ball. KKR will want one final push from Venkatesh Iyer with the bat just like he had done in the previous game against the same team.

Middle-order – Shreyas Iyer and Rinku Singh

Shreyas Iyer comes into the game knowing that he has to deliver yet again with the bat in the biggest game of his career. The KKR skipper shunted out the outside noise about his form and scored an important fifty for his side. Rinku Singh on the other hand has had a quiet season this year and this has also been coupled with the fact that he wasn’t picked for the main Indian team for the T20 World Cup. Rinku Singh is just one knock away from getting back to his best and if it comes in the final then KKR will surely hold their 3rd IPL title and their first in a decade.

Lower Middle-order – Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh

Veteran West Indian star Andre Russell’s form with the bat and also with the ball has been a pleasant reminder of his dangerous abilities with the bat. The Jamaican has started to get back to his prime form which was seen a few years ago. There is no doubt that the small ground in Chennai will favor his big hitting and also his deceptive pace bowling could pose a challenge to the Hyderabad batters. Ramandeep Singh has surprised a lot of people with his batting and his fielding skills. Despite not getting many chances to bat, Ramandeep has come out and played a few blinders at the back end of the innings to help KKR.

Fast bowlers – Mitchell Starc, Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana

 Australian star bowler Mitchell Starc didn’t have a great start to the IPL 2024 season but his form in the last few games has been amazing. His spell during the first qualifier match shows why Starc is considered one of the best white-ball bowlers. The young Indian duo of Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana have done well with the ball and helped KKR pick wickets at crucial times. Harshit Rana in particular has impressed with his pace and intelligent bowling during this season.

Spinner – Varun Chakravarthy

For one final time this season veteran spinner Varun Chakravarthy will be looked at to deliver the good. The 32-year-old had a dismal IPL to begin with and at the halfway stage in the season it looked like he could lose his place in the team. The second half of the season saw Varun Chakravarthy turn his performances around and become one of the key players for KKR in their run to the finals.

KKR predicted XI vs SRH in IPL final 2024

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Mitchell Starc, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, and Varun Chakravarthy.

Impact Player – Anukul Roy