IPL 2018 final, Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - Key player battles

Sunrisers Hyderabad will square off against Chennai Super Kings for the fourth time in IPL 2018. Kane Williamson’s side have enjoyed a great run in this tournament, with the captain himself leading from the front with the bat as well as with his tactical acumen. However, he faces a massive task against MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings, who are on a role and have defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad all three times in this edition. Chennai Super Kings, who have won the title in 2010 and 2011 but have lost in four finals, will be gunning for their third title while Sunrisers Hyderabad will be hoping to repeat their 2016 heroics.

Ahead of the title clash between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, here are the key player battles.

Kane Williamson v 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 indeed led from the front

Shikhar Dhawan v Lungi Ngidi: Both players would be expected to give their respective sides a good start to the innings. 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 v 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 v Siddarth Kaul: Raina’s experience, which helps him to switch roles between an aggressor and anchor innings’ at times, is a threat that SRH will be wary of and will bank on Kaul to send him back on the cheap. Besides Rashid, Kaul is the joint-highest wicket-taker for SRH and has 21 wickets to his name.

Faf du Plessis v Shakib Al Hasan: The South African should have himself selected based on current form and would be expected to open the innings once again. However, his main test will be against the wily Shakib Al-Hasan who drifts the ball away from the right-hander. Hasan has complimented his strike bowlers well, taking 14 wickets.