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IPL final: Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings Preview

Batsman Hits Ball

We are just one game away from finding out who will claim the spoils in the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League – and the two most successful sides in the tournament’s history are the last standing.


The Mumbai Indians started the tournament slowly, but came into their own as IPL 12 wore on, while CSK were the first team to qualify for the play-offs before they appeared to ease off.

The Super Kings lost the first qualifier but saw off the Delhi Capitals in clinical fashion to book their eighth final appearance.

Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium | 16:30

To Win Match
Mumbai Indians 82/100
Tie 35/1

Chennai Super Kings 21/20

The Mumbai Indians and Super Kings of Chennai are both vying for a record-breaking fourth Indian Premier League title, but only one can walk away victorious.

The Mumbai franchise topped the league and beat CSK in the first qualifier, doing so on their own patch in Chepauk. The Indians also claimed victory in their round-robin encounters, home and away, but that will count for nothing if they fail to repeat the feat for a fourth time.

In the plus column for the Super Kings will be the return to form of their openers Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson, who were imperious in seeing off the Capitals.

CSK are a team built around a core of highly experienced players, including du Plessis, Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo, Imran Tahir and Harbhajan Singh, while their opponents sport some of the top talent from India and abroad.

It took some time for Indians openers Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma to settle into a rapport with each other, but they have crafted among the best opening combinations in this tournament.

The Indians rely on the Pandya brothers to get them over the line to the point where they seem to have neglected the power of Kieron Pollard, who has had little to do with the bat this term. Krunal and Hardik each bring something different with the ball and their batting styles contrast, but ultimately achieve the same end, getting Mumbai home.

Tahir needs two wickets to unseat Kagiso Rabada from possession of the purple cap, which he has held for some time since reaching the mark of 25 scalps. Rabada was forced out of the tournament early, but could still finish at the head of the wicket-taking standings.

The Rajiv Gandhi stadium has a decent enough surface, but late in the tournament we are unlikely to see scores of 200-plus. More than 180 will be tough to chase, while anything over 160 will keep the team batting first in the game, as long as they bowl well.

Verdict: Mumbai Indians 82/100
The Indians will make it four out of four over CSK and claim their fourth trophy.

Written by Jonhenry Wilson for Hollywoodbets. 

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