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Chennai Super Kings versus SunRisers Hyderabad it is for the final for the IPL 2018.
Though CSK has beaten SRH on all three occasions they have met and given the experience of CSK players on big match occasions, CSK looks to be the favourite to win the trophy after 2011.
CSK has Ambati Rayadu and Shane Watson, both centurions in the IPL this year, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni who have scored 400 + in this edition of IPL while Faf Du Plessis won the first playoff match on his own.
Dwayne Bravo has pulled off victories from jaws of defeat with his batting as well bowling throughout the tournament. While R Jadeja has been good in patches, Lungi Ngidi has been backed by CSK and Dhoni is continuously improving with each match.
The only team whose batting has conquered SRH’s bowling has been CSK’s batting. Period.
But come to the final match anything is possible if you don’t hold onto your nerves. Catches dropped, extra runs, overthrows, runouts, it’s things as simple as that which could change the complexion of the match.
In last year IPL, Mumbai Indian versus Rising Pune Supergiants, Mumbai looked down and out for the most part of the match before Krunal Pandya struck vital blows towards the end and gave MI those 10-15 extra runs which made the difference in the end as RPS lost by one run.
So close was the final that up until 16th over the match was headed only one way. And it looked like RPS captain Steven Smith will steer them to victory easily but his loss in the final over to Mitch Johnson completely turned the table.
This is how crucial each run and wicket will be in finals. CSK has the experience and the might to conquer any bowling line-up, but SRH has potent bowling in Bhuvneshawar Kumar, Carlos Brathwaite, Siddharth Kaul and Rashid Khan who have taken 21 wickets each, as well as Shakib Al Hasan to make inroads into the strongest of the batting line-up.
Furthermore, able fielder Shikhar Dhawan who has taken 12 catches in the tournament, the most by any fielder, and two of them have been spectacular. In Wriddhiman Saha they have a reliable wicketkeeper and Rashid Khan has improved his fielding by leaps and bounds.
With Kane Williamson, you always have safe hands anywhere on the field. Flashback to last year’s IPL, where Steven Smith held out to Ambati Rayadu on the cover boundary with a shot that had looked destined for a maximum in 19th over, which changed the dynamic of the match.
So while CSK could win the match on any given day, perhaps the pressure of the final could get to them. This is where SRH’s chances lie and they have the resources to make it happen as well.
CSK under MS Dhoni has looked determined right from the word go as they have snatched victories from jaws of defeat. MI, RCB and KKR will agree to it as their assured wins were taken away from them by CSK. Shane Watson, in fact, has spoken about how watching Dhoni train has inspired him to perform better and Suresh Raina says they want to win the cup for Dhoni.
CSK’s determination, captain’s Midas touch, experience in the batting and big match stage should help them sail through. But watch out for SRH as they could punch above their weight like they have throughout the tournament.
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