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The Bengaluru Blasters will lock horns with the Mysore Warriors in the final of the Maharaja Trophy 2024 on Sunday, September 1. The M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will host this riveting encounter, which will see a team lifting their maiden title. Previously, the Hubli Tigers and the Gulbarga Mystics have secured titles in the last two editions.
The Blasters emerged as the top team in the group stage with seven wins in 10 games. In the semi-final, they bundled out the Mystics for 155, with a collective effort from the bowlers. Then, LR Chethan (89* off 51) led the team's run chase within 18 overs.
On the other hand, the Warriors finished second on the points table with six wins in 10 appearances. The semi-final game saw them posting 177 on the board, with SU Karthik scoring a half-century. Then, Krishnappa Gowtham's three-wicket burst paved the way for them to win the game by nine runs.
It will be interesting to see if the Warriors can break the deadlock against thhe Blasters this season. The Karun Nair-led side lost both games in the group stage against the Blasters.
On that note, let's take a look at the five players who will play an important role in the Maharaja Trophy 2024 final.
#1 Shubhang Hegde
Bowling all-rounder Shubhang Hegde's stock has been on a rise since the last year. In the 2023 edition of the Maharaja Trophy 2024, Hegde scored over 200 runs and took 12 wickets for the Blasters. The performance helped him to break into the Karnataka T20 side.
In this season, Hegde has continued his strong showing in both departments. He has scalped 13 wickets in 11 games at an average of 19.53. With the bat, the 23-year-old has smashed 196 runs at an average of 65.33. He recently hit 85* off 41 against Shivamogga Lions to win a thriller for the Blasters.
#2 Karun Nair
The reliable performer for crunch situations, Karun Nair has been sensational yet again in the Maharaja Trophy 2024. In the last season, the right-hander emerged as the best batter with 532 runs in 12 innings to take the Mysore Warriors to the final.
Nair has maintained consistency throughout the season to find himself at the second position on the batting charts. He has amassed 494 runs in 11 innings at an explosive strike rate of 187.12, with 124* as the best knock. With over 3,000 runs in T20s, Nair can be trusted to continue his good form in the final as well.
#3 Krishnappa Gowtham
Krishnappa Gowtham has been a silent performer in the Karnataka domestic circuit. In the last edition of the tournament, he picked up nine wickets at an economy of 8.05.
In this season, Gowtham has impressed with 13 scalps in 11 appearances, with the best figures of 3/29 coming in the clutch semifinal game. The veteran spinner has turned out to be an utility player in the shortest format as well, having a strike rate of 150+. If required, Gowtham can use his long handle to provide a flourish to the Warriors.
#4 Suraj Ahuja
Suraj Ahuja, the middle-order batter, has played a vital role for the Blasters this season. In 2023, he gave an account of his talent by scoring 230+ runs at a strike rate of more than 150.
In the 2024 edition, Ahuja has displayed consistency by slamming 278 runs at an an average of around 40 and a prolific strike rate of 170.55. He broke the shackles earlier this week by smoking 82* off 38 balls against the Lions to seal a 228-run chase. Ahead of the final encounter, Ahuja is one of the few players who can turn the game around.
#5 Lavish Kaushal
Left-arm pacer Lavish Kaushal played a pivotal role to help the Hubli Tigers lift the title last season with 11 scalps in 10 appearances. Kaushal continued his strong showing in this season as well, albeit for the Bengaluru Blasters.
The 28-year-old has bagged 16 wickets in 10 games at an economy of 7.62 and is second on the bowling charts. His best performance came against the Tigers, where he finished with sensational figures of 5/17 off four overs.
