The Kolkata Knight Riders will look to complete a double when they take on the Chennai Super Kings in the CLT20 2014 final in Bangalore.
KKR already picked up the IPL 2014 title earlier this year with an authoritative victory over the Kings XI Punjab, and they now return to the venue of that wonderful triumph – the M Chinnaswamy Stadium – hunting for another major title.
The IPL champions are currently on a wonderful winning run, having picked up victories in their last 14 T20 matches. Standing in their way of making it 15 in a row are CSK, who are desperate for their second CLT20 title.
While KKR have never been at this stage of the CLT20, CSK have been there and done it before, and MS Dhoni and co. will look to that experience against the Knight Riders.
Also in their favour will be the fact that KKR will be without their best player – Sunil Narine – after the spinner was banned from bowling in the final.
Narine will be a massive loss for KKR, who rely on the bowler to get them wickets as well as keep things as tight as possible. With Narine in their lineup, it usually becomes a 16 over game for their opponents; such is the effectiveness of the spinner in T20 cricket.
How KKR, winners over Hobart Hurricanes in the semifinal, navigates past the loss of Narine will make the big difference in this CLT20 2014 final. CSK are one of the most reliable teams when it comes to the big games, and Dhoni's men will certainly take any advantage of problems created by Narine's absence in the KKR side.
It will be up to Gautam Gambhir to rally his team around, and ensure that the IPL 2014 champions do not get too down at the loss of Narine. After all, KKR are unbeaten in this CLT20 2014, having won all four of their group games, including a win over CSK in the opening match of the main draw.
In that particular match, it was the batsmen who pulled a rabbit out of the hat for KKR, chasing down a target of 158 when all looked lost after a flurry of early wickets. KKR are at their best when chasing a total, and the batsmen will back themselves to haul down any target set by CSK, if they were to bat second.
Bangalore, more often than not, provides plenty of runs and CSK, who beat the Kings XI Punjab comprehensively in the semifinals on Thursday, will have the advantage of having played three games at the venue already, while KKR will be playing at the Chinnaswamy for the first time in the CLT20 2014.
Dhoni, no doubt, will look to win the toss and bowl first, knowing full well how difficult it is to set a defendable total in Bangalore, as the Kings XI Punjab found out against KKR in the IPL finale, when they could not defend a massive total of 199.
Gambhir will look to do the same as well, and it does look like the toss will play a big part in deciding the CLT20 2014 winners.
Where to Watch Live
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The Final of the CLT20 2014 is scheduled for a 7 pm IST (2.30 pm BST, 9.30 am ET) start, with live coverage in India on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 3 (in Hindi) and Star Sports HD1. Viewers can also catch the match via free live streaming online on Starsports.com.
US viewers catch the action on ESPN or Watch ESPN, and the final can be live streamed by audience in Canada on Watch Sportsnet.
Europe and UK viewers can watch the match on Eurosport or via a live stream courtesy the channel's online Player.
Middle East and North Africa viewers can watch the big finale on OSN or OSN Play, while South African and Sub Saharan Africa can do the same on SuperSport or their online option.
Rest of the world viewers can watch the KKR vs CSK final via free live streaming on StarSports.com.
