Shane Warne and Shaun Pollock preview Sunday's Sky Live final
Sunday 29 May 2016 07:27, UK
After 59 games and almost two months of action, the IPL reaches a climax on Sunday when Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final.
With the match taking place at their own M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB go in as overwhelming favourites - according to two legends of cricket.
Shane Warne and Shaun Pollock will be in Sky Studios for the game, live on Sky Sports 5 from 3pm, and both are struggling to see beyond a Bangalore triumph on home soil.
"It's a massive boost playing at home and Bangalore have got an absolute furnace down there," Warne told Sky Sports. "It's like a fortress. It's very hard for anyone to compete against them and they know the conditions.
"They're going to be fresh, they've found form at the right time - they've won five in a row and seven out of eight - Virat Kohli's is on fire, AB de Villiers is on fire now, too, and I can't see anyone challenging RCB at home."
Pollock concurs and believes that the team has improved as a unit with each player now understanding their role in the side.
"I would agree with Warney that RCB are the champions to be, everything is running for them," said the former South Africa all-rounder.
"They've won from strong positions, they've won from weak positions, and bowlers Yuzvendra Chahal and Shane Watson are fighting for the purple cap.
"Everyone has found their place and it is clicking together for them. Guys have figured out the roles they can play and they've grown in confidence.
"Also, as a bowling unit, when you believe you've got such a strong batting line-up you start to think that you don't actually have to do an amazing job because you've got the strength with the bat to take you through anyway!"
With the likes of De Villiers, Chris Gayle and Watson in their ranks, RCB do not lack for star quality, but one man in particular has shone brightly.
"Kohli has been fantastic," says Warne. "De Villiers, Watson, Gayle, they've all been fantastic, too, but Kohli has been something special."
Indeed, the Indian batsman could finish the tournament with more than 1,000 runs having scored four centuries and six fifties already in this year's IPL - another 81 would see him reach the milestone and the Sunrisers need to find a way to nullify him.
"I think for the Sunrisers, the key is to come up with some plans for the first six overs where they can hopefully pick two wickets up - one of De Villiers and Kohli and the other one, obviously, Gayle," added Pollock. "If they don't make early inroads I don't see them having much of a chance."
David Warner has been the main man for the Sunrisers, scoring a remarkable 779 runs so far, and has also captained the side superbly to reach the final.
"He's done well, he's got a lot of imagination," Warne said of his countryman. "I think he's had a fantastic tournament, unbelievable numbers and led from the front. He's a dangerous player and he's captained the side very well."
Pollock believes that for Sunrisers to stand a chance they will need something special from one of their big names with a good all-round team effort unlikely to be enough to see them crowned champions.
"I think the key is that the Sunrisers have got potential match-winners and it will have to be one of those guys having a blinder," explained Pollock.
"You'd often say that if as a team everyone is contributing then you can compete, I don't believe they can. They need someone to have one of the best days of their life.
"For example, Warner has to have an absolute blinder. I think they need to do everything well and have one guy have an awesome game."
"Warner has to have an absolute blinder. I think they need to do everything well and have one guy have an awesome game."
As a serial winner in his playing days, Warne knows what it takes to triumph when it really matters and believes that, ultimately, it is up to the big players to perform on the big occasion.
"To win finals and win tournaments your best players, your biggest players, your big stars have to stand up and win you the game, it's as simple as that," he said.
"Everyone else can contribute along the way but your big players - that's why you pay them the big bucks because you know they'll deliver under pressure.
"That's how you put your team together and then you know when you get to the final, one of your big stars will have a day out."
Watch the IPL final between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad from 3pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 5.
