The Showdown: Kohli's Dream Runs into Iyer's Resolve

Kohli's RCB are anxious after three final defeats; Punjab Kings will hope to get second time lucky

- Rasesh Mandani

AHMEDABAD: At the best of times, captains dodge probing questions in pre-match media conferences. Put captains of the two IPL finalists next to each other on match eve, staring at the trophy they will fight for after 10 weeks of attrition and you can expect them to be anything but candid.

"I respect your question, but don't think I would want to answer with the opposing skipper sitting beside me," Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer said when asked about his ability to pick moments in a match, on when to go hard, as his Royal Challengers Bengaluru counterpart Rajat Patidar listened.

The only time the two skippers lowered their guard in the 20-minute press meet was when reminded about their leading Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh in the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final. "Haan wahi feeling aa rahi hai (It's the same feeling)," Iyer said. "I was telling Shreyas the same thing. Bus, stage different hai," said Patidar.

An exhilarating IPL in which the most 200-plus totals have been achieved, laced with the most sixes and highest scoring rates, is coming to an end. However, Tuesday night will be less about these statistics and all about which set of players hold their nerves under pressure at the Narendra Modi Stadium.