RCB vs SRH, IPL: Five Key Clashes That Can Decide Course of Final
Indian Premier League finalists Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad boast of star performers. While RCB have Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, SRH have the likes of David Warner, Yuvraj Singh and Mustafizur Rahman. A look at the individual battles that can decide the course of the final.
Highlights
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RCB and SRH are the finalists of 2016 IPL.
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This will be RCB's third IPL final.
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As for SRH, they'll be playing their maiden IPL final.
Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2016 Indian Premier League final on Sunday. For the first time in three years, the tournament will have a new champion.
A look at the five key clashes that can decide the outcome of the title clash:
Virat Kohli vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar
It is a contest between the best batsmen of the tournament and the most effective bowler. With 919 runs in 15 matches at an amazing strike-rate of 151.90, RCB skipper Virat Kohli has enhanced his reputation with every game. To add to that, he became the only batsman to score four hundreds in a single season.
On the other hand, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has made a marked improvement since being marauded by South African batsmen last year. He has gained pace and swung the ball consistently. With 23 wickets in 16 matches at an economy rate of 7.50, Bhuvneshwar is currently the purple cap holder in 2016 IPL.
With Kohli being a master of chasing and Bhuvi being equally excellent in both initial and death overs, it's definitely going to be a mouth-watering contest.
David Warner vs Shane Watson
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Just like Kohli, David Warner has got better and better with each game, both as a batsman and captain. With 779 runs in 16 matches at a brilliant strike-rate of 149.23, he has single-handedly led SRH's batting challenge this season. His unbeaten 93-run knock vs Gujarat Lions in Qualifier 2 only proves his prowess.
Going into the final, Warner will face a stiff challenge from his Australian teammate and RCB all-rounder Shane Watson, who would know his strengths and weaknesses really well. Watson, alongside Chahal, has been RCB's best bowler in this tournament. He has picked up 20 wickets in 15 matches and hasn't leaked away too many runs.
AB de Villiers vs Mustafizur Rahman
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Mr. 360 vs The Fizz, and that too in a final. Can't get any better.
De Villiers has been magnificent, yet again, this season. His 682 runs in 15 matches have come at an awe-inspiring strike-rate of 170.07.
As for Mustafizur "The Fizz" Rahman, he is well on his way to becoming the best pacer in the world in limited-overs cricket. Difficult to score off the new ball and almost unplayable during the end overs. In his first IPL season, Mustafizur has taken 16 wickets in 15 games at an economy rate of 6.73. That says it all about his ability. His Yorker, off-cutters and subtle changes in pace have even troubled the best in the business.
There is still a question mark over Mustafizur's fitness. He missed the game vs Gujarat Lions due to a hamstring niggle and there hasn't been any update of his recovery as of now.
Yuvraj Singh vs Yuzvendra Chahal
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An inconsistent Yuvraj vs an in-form RCB leggie. But going by the southpaw's knack of hitting the wrist spinners all around the park, Chahal will have to be ready with different plans if he has to stop him.
With 198 runs in nine matches, Yuvraj hasn't been in the best of his form but has showed glimpses of his old self. On the other hand, Chahal has again been outstanding for RCB and has picked up 20 wickets in 12 games. But come Sunday, it'll all be a battle of nerves and whosoever wins it, will probably lift the title for his team.
Chris Gayle vs Barinder Sran
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The Universe Boss (as he calls himself) hasn't played to his potential for RCB this season. Some even believe that he is the weakest link the team's batting line-up but Kohli thinks differently.
When RCB needed to win their last four league stage to qualify for the play-offs, skipper Kohli backed him, as he knew if it's Gayle day, the opposition will lose the match in the first innings itself. Till now, that hasn't happened but who knows, Gayle might have saved his best for the most important match.
Early on in the innings, the left-arm seamer Sran, who has taken 13 wickets in same number of matches for SRH, may pose a big challenge to Gayle. But if Gayle conquers him, then the job would almost be half done.