RCB vs SRH Live Ball by Ball commentary | IPL 2016 Final Live Updates |
The Royal Challengers Bangalore became the first team to reach the finals of this edition’s IPL by defeating the Gujarat Lions after making a strong comeback in the tournament after a poor start. This year’s tournament have been completely owned by Virat Kohli’s superhuman consistency which surpassed the likes AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle and Shane Watson along with other superstars involved in the competition. He is one of the biggest reasons behind RCB’s tournament favorite tag.
The Bangalore-based franchise’s top order is arguably the greatest ever batting line-up in the history of T20s. Two of world’s best batsmen bat in the top three along with the most destructive batsman in the shortest format. However, Gayle’s season has been pretty ordinary by his standards. The big Jamaican would like to fire in the all important final.
Their bowling was under fire early in this year’s tournament in the beginning and was termed as one of the weakest bowling attacks by several pundits. However, they seemed to have brought it back a lot with discipline with the ball, and that has played a major part in their brilliant comeback this year.
The likes of Shane Watson and Yuzvendra Chahal are at the top of the tournament’s highest wicket takers list whilst a certain Iqbal Abdulla has also played a valuable part alongside AB de Villiers in their last match.
However, the Challengers will have to overcome the challenge of Sunrisers Hyderabad on 29 May to achieve the ultimate glory at their home ground. The David Warner-led side has several players who can emerge as threats in the final.
Here we take a look at five players who could be a threat to the Virat Kohli-led side in the all-important final at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
#1 Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The right-arm medium pacer from Meerut is currently the Purple Cap holder with the most number of wickets in the tournament. He has been the most successful bowlers of Sunrisers Hyderabad with crucial wickets in almost every matches.
The 26-year-old has been brilliant throughout the tournament and bowled with a lot of intensity. It seems that Uttar Pradesh cricketer has revived his swing along with a significant increment in the pace department.
In 16 IPL matches, he has picked up 23 wickets with a superb average of 20.21 and with an impressive economy rate of 7.50. He has also transformed into a very effective death bowler with clever changes and variations.
In 5 matches against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chinnaswamy Stadium, he has picked up 6 wickets at an average of 25.16 and with an economy rate of 7.61 which is quite impressive considering the nature and history of the venue.
#2 Mustafizur Rahman
The 20-year-old left-arm pacer has been world’s most successful T20 bowler in the last twelve months or so. The youngster from Bangladesh has been one of the most valuable players for the Sunrisers Hyderabad this season.
The "Fizz” has lightened up this year’s IPL after mesmerizing everyone with his performances in the World T20 and the Asia Cup. He has already picked up 16 wickets this season in 14 matches and has been virtually unplayable on several occasions. He is also one of the most economical bowlers of this year’s tournament with an economy rate of 6.73.
In the two league matches this season against RCB, the talented pacer has picked up 3 wickets at an average of 20 which talks about the volume of his caliber. He also got rid of Virat Kohli for just 14 at Hyderabad as his team won that match by 15 runs.
However, whether he shall be fit for the final is still under a cloud.
#3 Shikhar Dhawan
The left-handed batsman from Delhi has been the second highest scorer for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in this year’s IPL. The aggressive opener has a knack of shining in the important matches and is in fine form in the tournament.
The 30-year-old has scored 473 runs in 16 matches in the tournament with an average of 39.41 and with a strike-rate of 117.07. He mainly played the role of a sheet-anchor in this year’s competition and has been quite successful with that.
Dhawan also has a very good record against RCB as he has accumulated 372 runs in 14 matches with an average of 37.20 and with a strike-rate of 123.58. He has also scored four fifties against the Bangalore-based team.
#4 Yuvraj Singh
The 34-year-old left-handed batsman from Punjab is one of the key members of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team. He missed the first half of this year’s tournament with an ankle injury but since his return has made some valuable contribution to the team.
The presence of Yuvraj in the middle-order certainly give the openers some assurance to play freely. He has scored 198 runs in 9 IPL matches this season with an average of 24.75 and with a strike-rate of 126.92.
The ex-RCB player also has a good record against his former team. In 11 matches against RCB, he has scored 212 runs at an average of 23.55 and with a massive strike-rate of 150.35 along with a sublime half-century.
He is also an extremely valuable asset in the field. His run out of Colin Munro against the Kolkata Knight Riders in the first eliminator was a turning point of the match.
#5 David Warner
The left-handed destructive opening batsman from Australia has led the Sunrisers Hyderabad from the front in this year’s tournament. He is the highest scorer of Hyderabad and is also one of the highest scorers of the tournament. Apart from his batting, he has also led his team with immense intensity.
It has been a phenomenal season for the New South Wales man as he has scored 686 runs in 15 matches at the average of 36.90 and with a strike-rate of 147.84. The Australian vice-captain also has a very good record against RCB in T20s.
In 13 T20 matches against the Bangalore-based team, he has scored 609 runs at an average of 55.36 and with a strike-rate of 55.36 along with six half-centuries and a massive hundred. For Warner, the Chinnaswamy Stadium is one of his favorite venues as he has an exceptional record here.
He has played 6 T20s against RCB at Bangalore and has scored 347 runs at an average of 69.40 at a strike-rate of 177.04. The Sunrisers captain has also smashed three fifties at the venue along with a big hundred. David Warner can easily emerge as the biggest threat to RCB if his side reaches the final.
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