CSK will be playing in their ninth IPL final and will be looking for their fourth trophy while KKR will be hoping to win their third title.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK), after a disappointment of 2020 stormed back as the champion unit they have been, the solid unit they have been in the 11 years of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they qualified for their ninth final beating the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the first Qualifier.
Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, have turned out a different team in the second half throwing caution to the wind and playing the brand of cricket the sides led by their coach Brendon McCullum and captain Eoin Morgan in international played, fearless and with an aggressive attitude. They have won seven out of their nine games in the UAE leg and will be playing their third IPL final.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led CSK have dominated the Kolkata Knight Riders in their last five encounters, winning four of them and would be looking to avenge the defeat of 2012 IPL final.
Head-to-head: 25 games, CSK - 16, KKR - 8, NR - 1
The Chennai Super Kings and the Kolkata Knight Riders have faced each other 25 times in the 11 seasons (CSK were suspended for the 2016, 2017 seasons) of the IPL since 2008 and the MS Dhoni-led side have won 16 games, while the Kolkata side has won 8 of the 25 encounters, while one match was abandoned without a ball being bowled in 2009.
The two teams met each other twice and the men in yellow came out on top in both the fixtures. In the first game, CSK scored 220 runs in Mumbai and had KKR reeling at 31/5 but a late surge from Dinesh Karthik, Andre Russell and Pat Cummins meant the men in purple stormed back into the game but crucial wickets by Sam Curran and Lungi Ngidi helped CSK prevail by 18 runs. In the second game, Ravindra Jadeja came to the rescue of CSK providing a masterful finish and win a thriller for his side.
Suresh Raina leads the most runs list
Chennai Super Kings batter Suresh Raina is the leading run-scorer in the CSK vs KKR clashes with 747 runs. He is followed by the CSK skipper MS Dhoni with 483 runs. The current coach of the KKR side, Brendon McCullum, who has played for both KKR and CSK in the IPL is third on the list with 346 runs.
Sunil Narine is the leading wicket-taker
Kolkata Knight Riders spinner Sunil Narine is the leading wicket-taker in the CSK vs KKR games with 19 scalps followed by CSK all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who has taken 17 wickets against KKR. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who played for CSK till 2015 has taken 16 wickets against KKR in this fixture.
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