The Rajasthan Royals have qualified for the play-offs thanks to the Kings XI Punjab failing to restrict the Chennai Super Kings to 100, meaning they’ll join the Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai in the finals.
The winner of Chennai vs Hyderabad, who finished in top two, will go straight to final and the loser will play the winner of Kolkata and Rajasthan, who finished third and fourth on the points table, the winner of which will become the second finalist.
Here is look at the top four team, their compositions and their chance of success.
1. Sunrisers Hyderabad
It would be fair to say that Kane Williamson has carried the share of batting for Hyderabad, with 661 runs in 14 matches. They have defended scores as low as 119 and have even come close to pulling off a win by chasing 218 against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The good news for them is that Shikhar Dhawan looks to be back in form. The experiment of Shreevats Goswami opening paid dividends as he has had the Sunrisers blazing at the start. This allows the skipper to play all-rounder Carlos Braithwaithe in the middle order instead of Alex Hales at the top, which helps bowling.
Rashid Khan and Shakib Al Hasan have stiffed the opposition while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddharth Kaul and Sandeep Sharma have not given anything at the start or at death. Their ability to restrict oppositions and even defend subpar scores makes them favourites to lift the IPL trophy barring the roadblock of the Chennai Super Kings, who are led by the magical MS Dhoni.
(AP Photo/A.M. Ahad, file)
2. Chennai Super Kings
Chennai is the well-oiled machine of the IPL. The team of old horses, including Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayadu, Shane Watson, Dwayne Bravo and the greatest finisher in the limited overs format, MS Dhoni, the team seems on paper unlikely to falter in the play-offs.
The Super Kings are the only team to be in playoffs in all the years of the IPL, and they have the firepower to take down any opponent. Even if they don’t fire with the bat, MS Dhoni somehow manages to pull off tricks with the ball by shuffling his bowlers.
The only slight concern is the death bowling, as their bowlers are guilty of repeating the same mistakes over and over again. But no matter what, this team fights until the end, and if given any sniff of victory, it will grab it with both hands.
Just remember the first two matches, when they chased over 30 runs in last two overs. Chennai should reach the final irrespective of their opposition and the two chances they get.
Dhoni will ensure the team doesn’t repeat the same mistakes any at all are made if they lose the first play-off match. Dhoni has looked like his old self when he burst onto the scene in 2004-05, and it seems he will shed his cool captain image this time as he has been seen much more animated this season than earlier.
All of these reasons show that the captain’s appetite to win the IPL trophy after two years in exile is greater than ever.
(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
3. Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata is led by finisher Dinesh Karthik with Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn at the top. Andre Russell makes up for the all-rounder spot. Nitish Rana and Robin Uthappa have been done their jobs in the middle order, but it is Karthik who has finished the job more often often than not for Kolkata.
Their bowling stocks comprise Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav, Piyush Chawla and Sunil Narine, who will choke the flow of runs in the middle order. They have chased big scores, defended good totals and are much more settled than their opponents for their first play-off against Rajasthan.
Big names and experience playing in knockouts should help this team. Perhaps they will be the ones playing the loser of the Channai vs Hyderabad match.
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4. Rajasthan Royals
After lows in first half of the season they managed to bounce back thanks to Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer. Ben Stokes was the biggest disappointment, as was Jaydev Unadkat, but Krishnappa Gowtham, Shreyas Gopal, Sanju Samson and Rahul Tripathi have come good at different stages in the tournament.
Perhaps Ben Stokes leaving the Royals camp was a blessing in disguise for them as they could bring in additional bowler Ben Laughlin. Buttler, though, will be missed, and Ajinkya Rahane is likely to open.
Stuart Binny isn’t the same player he was back in 2013. The captain, Ajinkya Rahane, is yet to fire, and the play-offs will be his big opportunity to make amends for his low scores. He can be the lead the way, just like Kane Williamson doesm but constant shuffling has perhaps affected his form.
With a much more settled line-up, Rajasthan stands a great chance to make it all the way if the youngsters hold their nerves.
Verdict: the Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2018 IPL final.
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