Today, in the IPL final, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Four aspects of this match will be particularly captivating for the audience:
1. Battle of the Most Expensive Players
In the final, the two most expensive players will be playing. KKR bought Mitchell Starc for 24.75 crore INR, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. The second most expensive player is Pat Cummins, whom Hyderabad bought for 20.5 crore INR. He is also the team’s captain. These two Australian cricketers will be competing in the final.
2. No Players from India’s T20 World Cup Squad in the Final
None of the 15 players announced in India’s T20 World Cup squad are playing for KKR or Hyderabad. This means no players from the World Cup squad will be in the final. Only Kolkata’s Rinku Singh is in India’s reserve squad for the World Cup, but he didn’t make the 15-member main squad.
3. No New Champion for IPL
This year, there will be no new champion in the IPL. KKR has won twice before, as has Hyderabad. Therefore, whichever team wins will be crowned IPL champion for the third time.
4. Record in Sight for Cummins
If Hyderabad wins the final, Pat Cummins will set a record. It will mark a hat-trick of Australian captains leading Hyderabad to victory. In 2009, the captain was Adam Gilchrist, and in 2016, David Warner led them to victory. Cummins could become the third Australian to lead Hyderabad to the championship.
