Hyderabad: Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden and former England captain Kevin Pietersen picked Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as the favourites to win the elusive Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 saying they are better equipped because of a superior spin attack.
Shreyas Iyer-led KKR reached the summit clash by thrashing the Pat Cummins-led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Qualifier 1 by chasing the 160-run target in just 13.2 overs with eight wickets in hand. SRH bowlers then learned from their mistakes and rectified them to come out with an exceptional performance against Rajasthan Royals (RR). SRH successfully defended the below-par target against the formidable lineup and secured a comprehensive victory over RR in qualifier 2 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday, May 24.
"I'm very confident that KKR are going to win here, as having a few days off, having the ability to watch this match, and understanding what the strengths and weaknesses of Sunrisers Hyderabad are will be helpful," Hayden said on Star Sports Cricket Live.
"KKR, having defeated SRH, is going to have great momentum. I also just feel that the quality spin of (Sunil) Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy on the red clay is going to make a difference," added the former Australian batter, who played 103 Tests.
The southpaw batter believes a strong mentality of players and team is important to win a rigorous tournament like the IPL.
"It's about just getting it right, really as simple as that. You've done all the hard work, traversed the country, and been in and out of planes, buses, different hotels, and different beds. It's really challenging, rigorous tournament, and only the strong-hearted get a chance to lift that trophy at the end. Luck will always play a little role in a sportsperson's life, no question, but more than anything, it's about making sure you're committed to your team on the day. What I saw from Rajasthan Royals was that while they were committed to one side of the match, they didn't fully believe when it came to batting (on Friday)," he added.
"They felt the strain and tension, and they succumbed to it. Sunrisers Hyderabad bounced back. It's not easy to bounce back in big matches after a loss. We were just talking about that with India and Pakistan. Finals are not about retreating into your shell. Finals are about sticking your chest out, owning your space, understanding your role, and going for the jugular. That's the mentality you need in a final. It's a hunt, and you need to be in it to win it," he concluded.
Pietersen also joined Hayden to call KKR front-runners to win the IPL crown this year.
"I didn't like the way the Sunrisers threw in the towel the other evening in Ahmedabad, and I think it's going to put them on the back foot for the start on Sunday. The way they just finished that game off, Pat Cummins gave Travis Head the ball, and Shreyas Iyer just went bang, bang, bang. It'll give KKR a lot of confidence going into the finals knowing that they've already beaten SRH a couple of days ago," Pietersen said.
"So it's going to be hard for the Sunrisers to get up, but I think they will because they won the SA20, so they know how to win. They've got a structure that knows how to win, and when you've got that belief within the franchise, that belief within the ownership, then momentum has its own way," he added.
Pietersen feels the toss will play a crucial factor but KKR's positive mindset will hand them an edge over SRH. "The toss is 50-50. I think that you have to consider the possibility of dew and also be prepared if it doesn't come. It's all about the mindset and confidence coming into this fixture," he commented.
"That's where I think KKR have an advantage, given the way they've played, their convincing win in qualifier one, and their preparation over the last three or four days. Also, look at their key players: the form of Sunil Narine at the top of the order, the batting form of Venkatesh Iyer, the skipper Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten 50 in the last game, and their impressive bowlers, especially the spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Narine. They have a squad full of match-winners," he concluded.
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