Bengaluru, May 28: Virat Kohli's inspirational leadership for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be up against the brute force with which David Warner has steered Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) when the two teams, eyeing their maiden IPL title, square off in a high-intensity summit clash here today (May 29).
IPL Special Site; Points Table; Schedule; Photos
RCB, however, will have a slight advantage over Sunrisers as they have the experience of playing in an IPL final twice in the past - 2009 and 2011, but on both occasions, they had finished runners-up. (IPL results and scorecards)
Sunrisers' best finish was a play-off berth which they managed in their debut season in 2013. (Facts about the final) Topsy-turvy campaign RCB witnessed a topsy-turvy campaign initially and were in a real spot of bother at one stage.
They needed to win their last four games to make it to the play-offs and the Bangalore outfit didn't just achieve that but also recorded their first straight win to get a shot at the final for a third time. (Tendulkar praises 'special talent' Kohli)
The momentum with them, RCB would be determined to make the opportunity count by winning the coveted T20 tournament, having missed the chance twice in the past.
RCB struck form just at the right time and and dished out five clinical performances to beat the Lions (by 144 runs),
Kolkata Knight Riders (by 9 wickets),
Kings XI Punjab (by 82 runs D/L method),
Delhi Daredevils (by 6 wickets) and
Gujarat (by 4 wickets)
again in the Qualifier 1 to seal their place in the title clash.
(Will Kohli complete 1,000 runs?) Kohli and AB de Villiers have been the cynosure of all eyes for RCB with their batsmanship in IPL 2016.
Kohli has also been an impressive captain and infused confidence in the team after a disappointing start. ('Kohli better than De Villiers')
At a time when qualifying for the play-offs looked a distant dream for RCB, Kohli made it possible with his glorious batting and leadership qualities.
Without doubt, Kohli seems to be enjoying the best form of his career so far and is the highest run-getter in the tournament, amassing 919 runs from 15 games, which includes six fifties and four centuries with 113 being his highest score.
De Villiers, on the other hand, is the third highest scorer in the league with 682 runs under his belt with, including one century and six half-centuries.
In fact, in the Qualifier 1 at the Chinnaswamy stadium here, RCB, while chasing 159 for the win, were struggling at 29 for five at one stage with Kohli witnessing a rare failure this season.
But then stepped in De Villiers and the South African steered RCB through with a classic unbeaten 79.
He put on match-winning 91 runs for the seventh wicket with Iqbal Abdullah (33) to take his side into the final.
Besides Kohli and De Villiers, the big-hitting Chris Gayle would also be eyeing a big knock tomorrow after indicating his return to form in the last few games.
Read more at: http://www.oneindia.com/sports/cricket/preview-ipl-2016-final-royal-challengers-bangalore-vs-hyderabad-2111881.html
IPL Special Site; Points Table; Schedule; Photos
RCB, however, will have a slight advantage over Sunrisers as they have the experience of playing in an IPL final twice in the past - 2009 and 2011, but on both occasions, they had finished runners-up. (IPL results and scorecards)
AB de Villiers (left) and Virat Kohli are photographed during a training session ahead of the final
Sunrisers' best finish was a play-off berth which they managed in their debut season in 2013. (Facts about the final) Topsy-turvy campaign RCB witnessed a topsy-turvy campaign initially and were in a real spot of bother at one stage.
They needed to win their last four games to make it to the play-offs and the Bangalore outfit didn't just achieve that but also recorded their first straight win to get a shot at the final for a third time. (Tendulkar praises 'special talent' Kohli)
The momentum with them, RCB would be determined to make the opportunity count by winning the coveted T20 tournament, having missed the chance twice in the past.
RCB struck form just at the right time and and dished out five clinical performances to beat the Lions (by 144 runs),
Kolkata Knight Riders (by 9 wickets),
Kings XI Punjab (by 82 runs D/L method),
Delhi Daredevils (by 6 wickets) and
Gujarat (by 4 wickets)
again in the Qualifier 1 to seal their place in the title clash.
(Will Kohli complete 1,000 runs?) Kohli and AB de Villiers have been the cynosure of all eyes for RCB with their batsmanship in IPL 2016.
Kohli has also been an impressive captain and infused confidence in the team after a disappointing start. ('Kohli better than De Villiers')
At a time when qualifying for the play-offs looked a distant dream for RCB, Kohli made it possible with his glorious batting and leadership qualities.
Without doubt, Kohli seems to be enjoying the best form of his career so far and is the highest run-getter in the tournament, amassing 919 runs from 15 games, which includes six fifties and four centuries with 113 being his highest score.
De Villiers, on the other hand, is the third highest scorer in the league with 682 runs under his belt with, including one century and six half-centuries.
In fact, in the Qualifier 1 at the Chinnaswamy stadium here, RCB, while chasing 159 for the win, were struggling at 29 for five at one stage with Kohli witnessing a rare failure this season.
But then stepped in De Villiers and the South African steered RCB through with a classic unbeaten 79.
He put on match-winning 91 runs for the seventh wicket with Iqbal Abdullah (33) to take his side into the final.
Besides Kohli and De Villiers, the big-hitting Chris Gayle would also be eyeing a big knock tomorrow after indicating his return to form in the last few games.
Read more at: http://www.oneindia.com/sports/cricket/preview-ipl-2016-final-royal-challengers-bangalore-vs-hyderabad-2111881.html
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