This is the fourth time that RCB will play against CSK this IPL. And this is the fourth time, RCB will play against CSK in a play-off. RCB defeated CSK in the first semi-final(Season 2) and CSK has defeated RCB in the other two (Season 4 & CL Season 2).
But the good thing is that the two best teams of the season have reached the finals. Hope CSK raise up their game for the crucial match.
CSK Probable XI:
1. Hussey 2. Vijay 3. Raina 4. Badri 5. Dhoni 6. Albie Morkel 7. Saha 8. Bravo 9. Ashwin 10. Jakati 11. Bollinger
RCB Probable XI:
1. Luke Pomersbach 2. Gayle 3. Kohli 4. De Villiers 5. Saurav Tiwary 6. Mohamed Kaif 7. Mayank Agarwal 8. Vettori 9. Syed Mohammad 10. Zaheer 11. Arvind
Most Dangerous Players
1. Vettori: In the slow Chennai pitch, he would be RCB's deadliest bowler. How CSK middle order handle him would be interesting to watch.
2. Zaheer: In addition to his quota of 4 overs, he pseudo-bowls through Aravind & Mithun(if he plays). So it is important that Vijay & Hussey don't lose their wicket to Zaheer.
3. Gayle: After his induction into the team, his contribution with both bat and ball has been immense. CSK should be busy working out - not only his batting but also his bowling. Bollinger and Ashwin's spell against Gayle would be the decider in the match.
Favorites: It is a tight game to predict. I expect Hussey-Vijay partnership would be crucial for Chennai Super Kings.
3 comments:
It is so fitting that RCB will vs CSK in the final. Although I would have preferred CSK to vs MI or KKR in the final, it is RCB who deserves to be there. This finals series couldn't haven't been scripted better - Last season's champions and the second ranked team defending their title at home against the top ranked team.
I won't be that disappointed if CSK lose, because if RCB become the only team to win in Chennai this year and also ranked #1 on the points table then they deserve to be the champions.
I think the factors that will decide the match will be:
1. Chennai's home ground advantage - Chennai's unbeaten home run this year has turned their home ground into a fortress. Beating CSK there has proven almost impossible.
2. Chris Gayle's performance - In his current form he can single handedly win the game for RCB
3. Vijay and Hussey's Opening - CSK will need a strong start to beat RCB. Hussey and Vijay will need to play better than they have in recent matches.
4. Bangalore's other batsman - If Gayle misfires, they will need to step up again.
5. Chennai's big match experience - will Bangalore choke?
On another note, Congratulations to the team for winning another kingfisher fair play award (the other three finalists had the lowest totals of fair play points in the league which is interesting). Congratulations to the team for qualifying for yet another IPL finals series and another Champions League competition. And finally congratulations to the team in participating in their third of four IPL grand finals.
This Chennai team may go down in history as the greatest team in the IPL's early years. Perhaps even the greatest of the world's t20 franchises at the time. Regardless of the stumbles CSK have had along the way, and the mistakes they may have made in the eyes of us fans, and regardless of whether CSK win tonight, the team have once again made us proud of them.
I am going to pray that we win today.
I have major confidence in the hole team.
inshallah
@Mike,
The beginning of the season, I used to think that - comparisons with ManUtd was a bit ludicrous.. But seeing the team this year, believe the team should focus on being the most successful IPL franchise ever.
My order of preference for the finals was
1. Mumbai 2. RCB and 3. KKR.
Since KKR is the only team in the lot that would relish CSK conditions better than CSK..
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