New Delhi. The title match of IPL 2021 will be held in Dubai this evening between 3-time champions Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL 2021 CSK vs KKR Final). KKR has also won IPL 2 times. The team last captured the league title in 2014. Since then Kolkata has not reached the final till date. In such a situation, he has a chance to win IPL for the third time. However, the biggest obstacle in the way of KKR becoming the champion for the third time is the most hit pair of IPL 2021. It is none other than CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis.
For CSK, the opening pair of Rituraj and Faf du Plessis have performed brilliantly in IPL 2021. If CSK, who finished seventh in the last season, is playing the final of IPL this time, then this pair is the biggest contributor to it. Rituraj and Du Plessis have added 1150 runs in IPL 2021, which is the most by any opening pair in this season. If KKR wants to become the champion team of IPL for the third time, then this pair will have to be broken first in the powerplay. Because if this pair is successful in giving CSK a solid start, then the road for KKR will be difficult.
Naren can prove to be a trump card against Du Plessis
Faf du Plessis has scored runs in the powerplay in IPL 2021 at a strike rate of over 137. Against fast bowlers, the strike rate of Du Plessis is 142 in the first 6 overs. In such a situation, KKR captain Morgan will have to bring spin bowlers in the powerplay itself. Especially Sunil Narine. Naren has a good record against du Plessis. He has recently dismissed this opener of CSK 2 times. At the same time, Du Plessis has to struggle to score runs against Narine. He has been able to score runs in 9.1 overs against this bowler at a strike rate of 67.
Rituraj’s weakness short ball
At the same time, Rituraj Gaikwad can also increase the trouble of KKR. IPL 2021 has been great for him. He is the only batsman to score more than 400 runs in the UAE leg. Rituraj is the strongest contender for the Orange Cap. He is just 24 runs behind the first-placed Punjab Kings captain KL Rahul (626). However, it is not that they do not have any weakness.
In fact, teams have used the short ball very little against him in this season. He has been bowled only 19 short or short off length deliveries and 3 times he has lost his wicket on the short ball. That is, fast pace and short balls can be effective to stop Rituraj and KKR have a fast bowler in the form of Lockie Ferguson to take advantage of this weakness of Rituraj.
Duplessi-Rituraj pair hit
The opening pair of Rituraj and Du Plessis have shared 2 centuries and 4 half-centuries for CSK in IPL 2021. Both of them are included in the top-5 batsmen who scored the most runs in this season. Rituraj has scored 603 and Faf du Plessis has scored 547 runs. Together these two have scored 9 fifty in this season.