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The Chennai Super Kings face the Mumbai Indians in the final of the 2015 Indian Premier League. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 12:30am (AEST) on Monday morning.
It wouldn’t be an IPL final and the participation of Chennai Super Kings – Sunday night in Kolkata it will be their sixth appearance in the IPL final. Last year was the only occasion they missed the final.
Needless to say, they are specialist and simply the best team in the IPL history by a mile.
There opponents, the Mumbai Indians, won’t fear them and have the confidence of not only beating them just a week ago, but they also defeated their much fancied opponents in the IPL final on the very same ground two years ago to clinch the IPL title.
Mumbai’s openers, Parthiv Patel and Lendl Simmons are in top form, the platform they have set for the likes of Rohit, Pollard and Rayudu have ensured Mumbai have been constantly able to post totals over the 170 run mark.
Two years ago in Kolkata, Mumbai even managed to defend 148, so if they can bat first and post 170, they will be back themselves.
Chennai’s recent form has not been crash hot. They have three wins from the past seven starts but it will be a mistake to judge them on basics as they skipper, MS Dhoni is a master at getting his team to peak at the right end of the season.
It seems every time Chennai has tasted success against Mumbai, it has come from the bat of Dwayne Smith. The former Mumbai player has gone missing in recent weeks but if he can regain his touch, Chennai batting will spring to life.
Chennai will also take positives from the fact that the Kolkata track offers more for spinners. Meaning their attack of Ashwin, Negi and Jadeja will have more impact than they did one week ago at Mumbai’s home ground, Wankhede Stadium, in the first qualifying final.
This season the record stands at 2-1 Mumbai. Both teams winning away from home in group stages before Mumbai triumphed on home soil in the qualifying final.
The Eden Garden pitch tends to be slow and low. The outfield is lightning quick and with a bit of rain around, Duckwork Lewis could play a role.
Players to Watch
Rohit Sharma (Mumbai): The Mumbai skipper has not scored 50 in his last 10 innings of the IPL.
For a player that thrives in each and every IPL, he has captained well but has not had the season we expect from him. The skipper loves the Eden Garden and this might be just the game to turn around his patchy form.
Suresh Raina (Chennai): It has been a quite tournament for IPL leading ever run scorer. He has not featured in the top five run scorers but you sense he is about to explode in the play offs. Raina is a big match player and his form will be pivotal.
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