Vijay Hazare Trophy Final | Tamil Nadu vs Karnataka - Statistical Preview
Five-time champions Tamil Nadu will try to extend their record while a strong Karnataka side will try to resist them as the two sides face each other in the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy this Friday. Tamil Nadu, as per Bodog, will have an edge even though the match is being played in Bangalore.
Form Guide
Karnataka – W-W-W-W-W-W-W-L-W
Karnataka have been the most consistent team in the Vijay Hazare Trophy so far this year, having won eight of the nine matches, which includes the thumping of Chhattisgarh in the semi-finals. The power-packed batting line-up, comprising KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Devdutt Padikkal, and Manish Pandey, has been hard to contend with for the oppositions. Except for the match against Hyderabad, earlier on in the competition, and the nail-biting finish against Mumbai, it has been a cakewalk for the side in their pursuit for a fourth title. Mayank Agarwal’s presence in the squad after his successful outing for India will bolster Karnataka’s batting line-up in the final.
Tamil Nadu – W-NR-W-W-W-W-W-W-W
If there’s any team which can challenge Karnataka on their home ground, it is definitely Tamil Nadu. Another star-studded unit which is filled with international stars like Murali Vijay, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Abhinav Mukund will give the other contender a big run for the money. Apart from the washed-out quarter-final match at Alur, Tamil Nadu have not dropped a single point in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The inclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin will add glamour to the squad in the title clash going along with the mix of promising talents like Shah Rukh Khan and Washington Sundar.
Key Batsmen
Devdutt Padikkal
The teenager from Kerala is currently the top run-scorer in the Vijay Hazare Trophy this season having scored a couple of centuries and 5 fifties. With 103 being his highest score, Padikkal narrowly missed out on a century in the semi-final against Chhattisgarh after dismissed on 91. Overall, Padikkal has scored at a total of 598 runs in the tournament at a staggering average of 74.75 and we are fancying him to deliver one last time. Bodog is also heavily backing the southpaw to shine in the final with the bat and script a fitting end to Karnataka’s successful campaign.
Baba Aparijith
In spite of playing sensational cricket throughout the tournament, the right-hander fell early in the semi-final to Axar Patel’s delivery. But, that will still not negate the fact that he remains Tamil Nadu’s most fearsome batsman after his heroics for the five-time champions. In the 11 matches he featured in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Aparijith has scored 532 runs at an average of 66.50 which includes one ton and five half-centuries. Going as per the recent trend, Bodog is also against the thought that Aparijith will get knocked out without a huge score.
Key Bowlers
Abhimanyu Mithun
Abhimanyu Mithun has been around the domestic circuit for a while and has also played for India in Tests and ODIs but hasn’t been able to establish himself in the squad. His recent resurgence on the domestic circuit will definitely catch the attention of the selectors. Having scalped 15 times in 8 matches at an average of 17.13, the fast bowler has been the most lethal weapon for his side in the competition. We can expect the speedster to strike early on in the innings with Murali Vijay opening for Tamil Nadu, whom Bodog does not fancy to score too many runs in the title clash.
M Mohammed
Even though the name of M Mohammed might not have made rounds on the Indian cricket circuit, the right arm pacer has undoubtedly hogged the limelight in the ongoing tournament. His services will be invaluable for Tamil Nadu in the final as it’s evident from the fact that he is their top wicket-taker with a tally of 16 along with an impressive average of 14.87. Karnataka’s first-wicket stand in the tournament has been phenomenal and Bodog believes them to repeat it even in the final. But, Mohammed will be effective for Tamil Nadu in the middle overs as he has done in the past.
Bodog Predictions
Even though Tamil Nadu is in red hot form and enjoyed the more convincing victory in the semi-finals, Bodog has backed up Karnataka to clinch a record sixth Vijay Hazare Trophy. The introduction of Mayank Agarwal in the side has swayed their decision going into the last match of the ODI tournament.
Squads
Karnataka
Manish Pandey, KL Rahul, Pavan Deshpande, Praveen Dubey, Sreyas Gopal, Krishnappa Gowtham, V Koushik, Abhimanyu Mithun, Ronit More, Devdutt Padikkal, Prasidh Krishna, Srinivas Sharath, Krishnamurthy Siddharth, Abhishek Reddy, Jaadeesha Suchith
Tamil Nadu
Dinesh Karthik, Baba Aparijith, Vijay Shankar, Murugan Ashwin, C Hari Nishanth, Narayan Jagadeeshan, J Koushik, M Mohammed, Abhinav Mukund, T Natarajan, Ravisrinivasan, Shah Rukh Khan, M Siddharth, Abhishek Tanwar, Krishnamoorthy Vignesh, Murali Vijay, Washington Sundar
Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
When to watch: October 25, 9 AM
Where to watch: Hotstar and Star Network
If you do get an opportunity to catch up with the live match on your Television sets, or even if you do, log on to Bodog to get updates on the match and many more.
Predicted starting XI
Karnataka
KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Mayank Agarwal, Manish Pandey, Karun Nair, Praveen Dubey, Rohan Kadam, Krishnappa Gowtham, Abhimanyu Mithun, Ronit More, V Koushik
Tamil Nadu
Abhinav Mukund, Murali Vijay, Baba Aarijith, Dinesh Karthik, Vijay Shankar, Washington Sundar, Shah Rukh Khan, Murugan Ashwin, Ravichandran Ashwin, M Mohammed, T Natarajan
