BATTLES THAT WILL SHAPE THE WAR

KANE WILLIAMSON vs MS DHONI

Captaincy is often an underrated gift in cricket but the way these two have led their sides to reach the final, it has been nothing short of a fairytale journey. Be it the crunch decisions at crucial junctures of the game or leading their sides with the bat, Dhoni and Williamson have been a crucial factor.

SHIKHAR DHAWAN vs LUNGI NGIDI

It should be an exciting contest between the two given that their respective sides would bank on them for stellar starts. While Dhawan has already aggregated 471 runs at an average of 39.25 and a strike rate of 139.34, the South African pacer has 10 wickets to his name from six games with an economy rate of 5.90.

AMBATI RAYUDU vs RASHID KHAN

If there’s one name that’ll the famed Chennai Super Kings batting line-up will dread, it has to be Rashid Khan. A 10-ball 34 coupled with three vital wickets rocked Kolkata Knight Riders in their own backyard and Rayudu, who’s fallen to spin quite a few times this season, has to play him out cautiously.

SURESH RAINA vs SIDDARTH KAUL

Raina’s experience, which helps him to switch roles between an aggressor and anchor as required, is a threat SRH will be wary of and they will bank on the pacer to send him back cheaply. Rashid and Kaul are joint-highest wickettakers for SRH with 21 wickets against their names.