CSK vs KKR, IPL Final 2021, 15 October, 07:30 PM IST
Toss : Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and chose to bowl first
Pitch report: Statistically, chasing looks to be the best option here. The last eight matches at this venue have been won by the chasing team. This pitch hasn’t been used since game number one (19 September). Chennai put 156 on the board and they defended it. It looks an absolute belter, runs on the board might be just good enough.
Venkatesh Iyer: I am not seeing it as a big game. Looking at it that it is another game which we need to win. I have worked really hard. It feels good to be recognised. I would try to help the team to win today. I feel if I am strong in academics, it makes me take smarter decisions.
I have never tried to interchange either professions of mine. The coach and captain have advised me again like before to go out there and enjoy yourself as well as express yourself.
Josh Hazlewood: Excited, most of all. There obviously are a few nerves in the group, but all these guys have been here before and played in a few IPL finals. These wickets have been helpful on occasions.
There is enough if you hit the back of a length and make them play shots. I have bowled a lot upfront and usually one or two in the end. Batting in the powerplay has been the easiest, but I enjoy bowling there and getting the team off to a good start. The pressure is more on the batters.
The batters know they have to get off to a good start. Once five fielders go out, it is tough with these big boundaries. You want to be nice and calm and keep doing what has worked so far. Most importantly, have fun.
Morgan: “We are gonna have a bowl, the wicket looks good and there’s some dew around. We are gonna give it everything tonight. We are going with the same team.“
MS Dhoni: “We are looking to bowl first as well, initially it stops a bit and as the game goes on it settles down and toss is uncontrollable and we are prepared for both. We started T20 in around 2005-06 and most of the games have been franchise cricket.
In the last five years there have been a lot of T20 games in international cricket as well. We are playing with the same squad. Often what really dictates terms is the result and I feel our international players are equipped to deal with whatever the situation maybe.”
Playing XI :
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood
Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik(w), Eoin Morgan(c), Shakib Al Hasan, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakaravarthy
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