IPL 2018| Sunrisers Hyderabad are fortunate to have Rashid Khan, claims Kane Williamson

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Kane Williamson has made it clear that losing three matches to Chennai Super Kings in this year's Indian Premier League is not going to affect his team's psyche before the all-important final. He stated that it is a final and it will be an even game for both teams.

"CSK are playing really good cricket and they won number of those league games and qualifier coming into the final but I think it's all even and both teams have a lot to play for. Both teams are really excited at the opportunity to play one another in the final," said Williamson.

Sunrisers lost both their league matches to the Super Kings by four runs and eight wickets respectively and then went on to lose in the first qualifier by two wickets despite being in a match-winning position thanks to Rashid Khan's brilliant bowling. In the first qualifier, Rashid's 2/11 from four overs almost changed the game in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s favor but Faf du Plessis' unbeaten 42-ball 67 helped CSK to get over the line in the final over of the innings.

The Afghan leg-spinner continued his tremendous form in the second qualifier too and put up an all-round show to help SRH beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 14 runs and reach the final. Rashid first smashed 34 not out from 10 balls and then ripped apart KKRs batting lineup to take his team to the final. He finished with match figures of 3/19 from his four overs and also affected a match-changing run-out of Nitish Rana. Before the most awaited game of IPL, Kane Williamson is hoping that he continues his rich form once again in the final against CSK.

"We are very fortunate to have Rashid Khan in our team and he has been outstanding throughout this whole campaign and hopefully tomorrow (Sunday) night, he can do it all over again," said the SRH captain as reported by India Today.

"I think it's a very consistent think throughout IPLs. The quality of these leg-spinners are very very high. Obviously, this left-hand right-hand batsman and having the ability to take them away from those on surfaces that offer a bit of turn is certainly an asset," he added.