Daijiworld Media Network
Chennai, May 27: Welcome to the final of IPL 2012. We are all set for the summit clash between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings from the Chepauk stadium. Chennai are chasing a hat-trick of IPL titles while Kolkata will look to clinch their maiden IPL trophy.
Chennai Super Kings have won the toss and elected to bat.
Gambhir: We have three quality spinners and also have Lee today, so we are up for the challenge. Unfortunately Balaji has to miss out due to an injury and hence we have to bring in Lee. McCullum makes way for Bisla.
Dhoni: We are looking to bat first in a pressure game and we want to put runs on the board. The pitch looks a little different with some more grass but it depends on how they have rolled it. It is different every time when you play the final. It is a fresh time everytime and you just need to be consistent. It is about this particular portion of three and a half hours. We are unchanged for this match.
Kallis: As long as we can keep playing the way we have, there's no reason why we can't win. The confidence that Gambhir gives us and the starts that he gives us with the bat is really good. I think he has led the team really well. I think we don't rely on individuals to win the game and we put in some good all round performance. It is obviously important and anytime you play in a final you want to win. I have played in a final once and haven't won it so it would be nice to win a cup for Kolkata. If we can do the basics better than Chennai then we can come out on top.
Some interesting changes for KKR. They have been forced to bring in a seam bowler owing to Balaji's injury. At the same time they have been brave enough to retain their three spinners who have well and truly won them crucial games in the past. The gamble though has been to leave out McCullum who along with Gambhir has given KKR some solid starts at the top. Kallis hasn't been mighty effective this IPL but he will have to bat in the way he normally does and let Gambhir do the attacking.
Murali Vijay: That 100 really meant a lot to me and I'm really happy that my team won, that's more important. I love playing on this ground and I'm happy that I've got my form back. Everyday is a new day, so hopefully we win today.
Sunil Narine: It has been a great experience and the guys are waiting for this moment. Hard work and dedication has reaped rewards for us. There are no special plans. We have to keep the basics right. The Chennai track has always helped the spinners.
Kolkata have had a five day break following their victory in the first qualifier against Delhi.
Chennai just thrashed Delhi a couple of days ago in the second qualifier and they have got momentum heading into this match. Chennai are a team that peaks at the right time and they have MS Dhoni, a man who knows how to perform in the knock-out stages.
Teams:
Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Gautam Gambhir(c), Manvinder Bisla(w), Jacques Kallis, Shakib Al Hasan, Yusuf Pathan, Debabrata Das, Laxmi Shukla, Brett Lee, Rajat Bhatia, Sunil Narine, Iqbal Abdulla
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Murali Vijay, Michael Hussey, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Albie Morkel, S Badrinath, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shadab Jakati, Ben Hilfenhaus