Australia's World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins faces a tough challenge as his Sunrisers Hyderabad confront Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League final on Sunday. Hyderabad's qualification came after a defeat by Kolkata in the first play-off, but they secured their spot with a win against Rajasthan Royals in the last qualifier. This will be Hyderabad's third IPL final, having won the title in 2016.
Both teams have a history of encounters, with Kolkata winning 18 out of 27 matches against Hyderabad. Cummins, known for his effective leadership, led Australia to victory in the world Test championship and the ODI World Cup last year.
Hyderabad has showcased impressive performances, with record IPL totals of 277 and 287. Cummins has proven to be an astute leader, efficiently rotating bowlers and defending formidable totals. However, they face the challenge of thwarting Mitchell Starc, Kolkata's formidable quick, who has been in top form.
Kolkata, led by Shreyas Iyer, finished at the top of the 10-team table in the league phase. With the inclusion of Starc and Gambhir as a mentor, Kolkata has been a dominant force. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy have been instrumental with the bat and ball, consolidating Kolkata's performance.
The final will witness a clash of strong batting line-ups with promising talents on both sides. The IPL 2024 final promises to be an electrifying encounter between two formidable teams.
