IPL 2018: Chennai's fate in the final will depend on how their batsmen play Rashid Khan, says Kumar Sangakkara

Dean Jones thinks it will be about getting the CSK big hitters out for SRH.

Kumar Sangakkar (AP)

Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lankan great, has come out and stated that tonight's Indian Premier League final between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad will be about how the CSK batsman fair against the outstanding Rashid Khan.

Rashid Khan was simply brilliant in the second qualifier against the Kolkata Knight Riders, where he made the decisive impact on the big night by picking 3 wickets and going for just 19 in his four overs.

Sangakkara, who is currently working as an expert for Star Sports, was recently quoted saying to the TOI that, “For me, it will be Rashid Khan vs the Chennai batsmen. That is one of the reason (Ambati) Rayudu has dropped down to No. 4 to handle the threat of Rashid with Suresh Raina. How Chennai handle SRH pacers on the Wankhede track in the early over and how they deal with Rashid in the middle will dictate the course of the final,”

He further said, “CSK picked the side with a very specific purpose. They had a clear idea who they wanted to get. They settled on the players who had the ability but also experience on their side and it has worked for them so far, We don’t know how much this extended break between matches will help Chennai. We’ll have to see if it works out in their favour. But CSK will be heading into the final full of confidence, having already beaten the Sunrisers three times this season and they’ll be hoping if they can make it a fourth on Sunday,”

Dean Jones, another cricket expert and commentator for the host broadcaster was heard saying, “Key is to get some of the bangers (big hitters) out before the 16th over. There is the additional pressure of a final. We have usually seen that finals are won by the team that makes the least mistakes, MS (Dhoni) has his own style of captaincy, he waits for the opposition to make mistakes by squeezing the life out of opposing teams. Kane (Williamson) is different because we saw bat-pads, slips and that was what got (Andre) Russell out on Friday.”

Dean Jones concluded, “The best foreign player has to be (Sunil) Narine of KKR with Williamson coming close. The best-uncapped players for me will be Rishabh Pant of the Daredevils. Rashid has been up and down but if you want someone to change the momentum of the game, it’s Rashid who has been up there.”

(Inputs from Times of India)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 27 May, 2018

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