According to former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee, Kolkata Knight Riders are the top contenders to win the IPL 2024. KKR, the two-time IPL champions, finished the league stage as the number one side on the points table for the first time in their history. The Shreyas Iyer-led team then convincingly defeated the formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in Qualifier 1 to secure their place in the final.
Regarding Kolkata’s possibilities in the current campaign, Lee stated that he had great expectations for RCB but that they were eliminated in the Eliminator following a defeat to RR. On paper, though, and in their current form, Kolkata are a force to be reckoned with. The legendary pacer also called the Kolkata side as the deserving winner of the competition.
“From the start, I had high hopes from RCB, so I was disappointed when they were eliminated last night. However, based on their current performance, KKR are a strong contender. In my opinion, KKR are the team most deserving of the top spot, as they have secured a direct path to the final, making them a tough team to beat,” Lee told ANI.
In line with Lee’s claims, former Sri Lankan batter Tillakaratne Dilshan noted that KKR have been more reliable than RR, who finished third in the league despite losing four of their last five games.
“In my opinion, Kolkata Knight Riders have performed consistently well throughout the IPL tournament. Rajasthan Royals also played good cricket, but their performance became shaky as the tournament progressed. However, KKR have been strong in all three areas – bowling, batting, and fielding. Based on their overall performance, I believe KKR are the likely winner of this year’s IPL,” he opined.
On May 24, SRH and RR will face off in Qualifier 2 in Chennai, with the winner securing the second spot in the final. The victorious team will then take on KKR in the championship match on May 26 at the same venue.