(Left) KKR Captain Shreyas Iyer (Right) SRH Captain Pat Cummins
As the IPL 2024 final approaches, cricket enthusiasts are buzzing with a mix of surprise and anticipation. In an unprecedented scenario, this year’s final will not feature a single player from India’s main squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. Both Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are set to face off at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today, with neither team boasting a player from the 15-member squad heading to the World Cup.
KKR’s Rinku Singh, although part of the reserve list for the ICC event, does not feature in the main squad. This absence of top-tier World Cup-bound Indian players in the IPL final is a striking oddity, given the tournament’s status as the pinnacle of Indian cricket.
What makes this year’s final more interesting is the omission of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Jasprit Bumrah. Their absence marks a significant departure from tradition, as these players have always been the face of the tournament over the years. This change not only highlights the evolving dynamics of the IPL but also underscores the emergence of new talent that is ready to take center stage and carve their own legacy in the books of cricket.
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Despite the absence of celebrity players, the IPL has been a breeding ground for emerging talent this season. Seven of the top ten leading run-scorers are Indians. The impressive performances of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, Sai Sudharsan and Abhishek Sharma, none of whom are even among the four reserves, underscore a depth of talent in Indian cricket.
On the bowling front, the dominance of Indian bowlers is evident. With the exception of SRH captain Pat Cummins, all of the top ten wicket-takers are Indians. However, from the top five, only Jasprit Bumrah has made the World Cup squad. Harshal Patel, leading the charts with 24 wickets, alongside Varun Chakaravarthy and T Natarajan, will be spectators rather than participants in the World Cup.
Rinku Singh’s exclusion from the main squad sparked significant criticism from fans and analysts alike. Many believe his stellar performance in recent times guaranteed him a spot in the main T20 squad.
Adding to the surprise, this is just the third time in the 17-year history of the tournament that the final will not feature one of the big teams. For only the third time in IPL history, the final will be played without one of Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, or Royal Challengers Bangalore. The last instance was in IPL 2022 when Rajasthan Royals played Gujarat Titans. The first instance was way back in 2014, when Kings XI Punjab took on KKR, with the latter winning their second trophy.
Chennai Super Kings have reached the IPL final 10 times, and Mumbai Indians have managed to reach the final 6 times. MI and CSK thus have the joint highest number of trophies. Royal Challengers Bangalore have reached the IPL final on three different occasions (2009, 2011, and 2016) under three different captains (Anil Kumble, Daniel Vettori, and Virat Kohli). However, they have never won the title, even once in the last 17 years.
As KKR and SRH prepare for the IPL 2024 title face-off, the absence of World Cup-bound players emphasises cricket’s unpredictable and exciting nature. It also serves as a reminder that the future of Indian cricket is in good hands, with a wealth of emerging talent ready to step up and perform on the big stages.
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