Kolkata have turned the tide in their favor on the slow pitches of the United Arab Emirates, winning seven of their nine games since the IPL resumed after six months due to the pandemic. Kagiso Rabada (2-23) and Andrich Nortje (2-31) claimed two wickets each and Ravichandran Ashwin picked up two wickets in the last over before Rahul Tripathi hammered a six to see Kolkata through to their third IPL final. Kolkata lost seven wickets for 40 runs before managing to reach 136-7 after Venkatesh Iyer (55) and Shubman Gill (46) had contributed 96 runs for the opening-wicket stand. “I want to stay humble.SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates - Kolkata Knight Riders reached their first Indian Premier League final in seven years with a nervy three-wicket win over last year’s finalist Delhi Capitals in the playoffs on Wednesday. “I try to stay neutral,” Gaikwad said after taking the match award in the first qualifier. Will all the success go to his head? Not likely. His haul of 603 runs is just the third time a Chennai player has exceeded 600 in a season, and 24 more in the final would earn him the orange cap for the leading run-scorer of 2021.Īnd despite his elegance, he is also the possessor of the longest six of the season – a mammoth 108 metre effort.
Back here this time, he has been a class apart. He struggled to recover, and looked entirely out of sorts when he did get on to the field at the end of the 2020 season. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s first campaign in UAE was harpooned by Covid. Ruturaj Gaikwad of Chennai Super Kings in action in Dubai.
Gaikwad’s greatness © Provided by The National
And that, too, a season that was not hamstrung before it started by a raft of Covid cases in camp, the departure of a pillar of the side, and the delayed recovery of a young star - unlike in 2020. Stephen Fleming, the coach, spoke hopefully about being part of a rebuild, and warned it could take a while to construct a new side. This time last season, Chennai were contemplating the end of a dynasty, having been the most consistent side in IPL history. It is, after all, a city where monumental buildings are constructed in rapid time. It is no surprise Chennai feel at home in Dubai, either. “I for one am looking forward to seeing him grow as a person and a cricketer.” Chennai rebuild was rapid © Provided by The NationalĬhennai Super Kings feel at home in Dubai. “Seeing him strike the first ball to the cover boundary soothed a few nerves in the dressing room and dug out. What he does is give the whole batting group a lot of confidence the way he goes out there. “It is just about how he gets there and how quickly he gets there. “Everyone knows he is going to be a 10-year veteran of Test, one-day and T20 cricket for India,” Hussey said of Gill. He has made four scores worth 46 or better since the teams decamped to UAE. Iyer’s emergence has slightly overshadowed the consistent excellence of his opening partner Shubman Gill.īut the 22-year-old opener has been just as reliable. Shubman Gill has been in fine form for Kolkata Knight Riders. “Not only is he a classy player but he is a wonderful person and a wonderful team man as well.” Still the next big thing © Provided by The National “We have found a player in Venkatesh Iyer,” David Hussey, Kolkata’s assistant coach, said. He was the only player on either side to look comfortable with the conditions in Sharjah during the final qualifier, when his 55 set the platform for the win over Delhi Capitals. Since getting to the Emirates he has been rampant, scoring three half-centuries – one each in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. The left-handed opener did not play a game in the India phase of this season. No one personifies Kolkata’s uptick in form in UAE quite as starkly as Venkatesh Iyer. Venkatesh Iyer in action against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Venkatesh Iyer: remember the name © Provided by The National
But Kolkata have yet to lose a final, plus they have an irrepressible new find. Sure they will be meeting one of the most formidable sides in IPL history when they get there.