IPL 2018 Final: 3 key battles to look out for

The final of the IPL 2018 is going to be an exciting affair. The Sunrisers Hyderabad finished first on the table at 18 points, just ahead of the Chennai Super Kings, who also finished on 18 points with a difference of 0.3 net run rate.

The Chennai Super Kings have beaten the Sunrisers Hyderabad thrice already in this IPL. In Qualifier 1, CSK won by 2 wickets, while the Sunrisers beat KKR by 14 runs in the Qualifier 2.

The final match of this season promises to be a tough battle between two remarkable teams. Let us have a look at the three mouth-watering battles to watch out for IPL Final 2018.

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#3 Shane Watson vs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

It is no secret that Watson usually struggles at the start against swing bowling. He is susceptible to those balls that nip back into the right-hander and has the tendency to fish outside the off stump to an out-swinger.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a premier swing bowler who can move the ball both ways. In Qualifier 1, Kumar got Watson out on a duck in the first over of the innings. He bowled a beautiful out-swinger to Watson, which he edged to the wicket-keeper.

Watson is a very dangerous batsman once he gets set and can take the game away from the opposition quickly. It will be crucial for Kumar to try to repeat the same spell which he bowled to him in the first qualifier. This will be an interesting battle to watch out for in the final.

#2 Kane Williamson vs Deepak Chahar

Kane Williamson has been in exceptional form this season. He has timed the bowl to perfection and has been clearing the ropes with ease and grace. He has made up for the loss of David Warner in this IPL.

If he carries this form into the finals then he can single-handedly lead the Sunrisers Hyderabad to their second IPL trophy. The CSK pacers should try to get him out early in the innings. Kane likes the ball coming on to the bat and tries to play late.

Deepak Chahar should bowl in the off-stump channel and bring him on the front foot. Williamson has scored 688 runs at an average of 52.92 at a strike rate of 143.33. Chahar's figures this season read 10 wickets at an average 25.3 and an economy rate of 7.4.

#1 MS Dhoni vs Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan has been in brilliant form for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in this year's IPL, picking 21 wickets at an average of 20.67. Dhoni too has been in great form this IPL and has scored 455 runs in 15 matches at an average of 75.38 and at a strike rate of 150.66.

In the Qualifier 1 at the Wankhede Stadium, Rashid got the better of Dhoni. He bowled a googly to Dhoni which he didn't pick and in the process got an inside edge on to the stumps. Dhoni has shown a tendency to struggle against leg-spin throughout this IPL.

This will be a keen contest to watch out for on Sunday. Williamson might save Rashid's overs for Dhoni after seeing what happened in Qualifier 1. It is up to Dhoni to not let himself succumb to Rashid's spin.