Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans for IPL🏆: No.5 or No. 2?

In 9 out of 12 finals since 2011, the side winning Qualifier 1 has gone on to win the final as well.

Numbers matter. But if confidence, pressure and other sporting buzzwords were indeed irrelevant, cricket would’ve been played by robots. Chennai Super Kings have resisted letting the situation get to them in the past. Players who were a part of the setup have claimed that the feeling of playing a final was never really felt in the team. Yet, a day ahead of the 2023 final, Stephen Fleming, who has been a part of 11 IPL finals, doesn’t deny that there is ‘a bit of nervousness’. It’s what makes the players perform at their best, according to him.

On the other hand, Vikram Solanki, GT’s Director of Cricket, put up a more relaxed front – of being confident in what the team has achieved in its brief past, as well as giving the due to CSK who have done it many times over. CSK may have dictated terms in the first Qualifier against Gujarat Titans, but on a slowish surface in Chennai, it was home comfort for them. Irrespective of how many fans turn up wearing the yellow jersey in Ahmedabad on Sunday in the hope to see MS Dhoni lift the trophy again in what could be his last game in the IPL, conditions will be far from home. Fleming isn’t fretting though.

Playing on all sorts of surfaces this season has equipped his team slightly better to neutral pitches, according to him. Solanki is expecting a fast, high-scoring wicket, similar to the one where the home side had chased down CSK’s 178-run total with four balls to spare right at the start of the season. GT may be slightly better equipped for such conditions, as Show cased against Mumbai Indians. While a lot of skill and tactics will be at play, the title clash will boil down to the pressures of the day for two teams who have enjoyed spells of domination throughout the season.

For the 10th time with Chennai Super Kings – in the 14 seasons they have featured in the IPL – Stephen Fleming finds himself preparing for a final. For all the talks of calm that surrounds CSK’s lead-up to an IPL final, Fleming opened up about the nervousness that has crept in even for the four-time champions.But it’s not the worst thing to happen, according to the head coach.

“It’s a big occasion,” reminds Fleming ahead of the summit clash against Gujarat Titans. “The game doesn’t change but the outcome does. It’s really hard not to look too far ahead and dream of winning it again. To be a part of it (the title win) is what we sit out to do, that’s our purpose.

When: Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans, IPL 2023 Final, Sunday, May 28, 2023, 7:30 PM IST

Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

What to expect: Even as the weather is expected to be mostly sunny and dry, the possibility of brief showers hasn’t been ruled out. A day ahead of the game, Vikram Solanki has stated that the pitch is expected to be friendly for scoring runs.

Head to Head: Chennai Super Kings 1 – 3 Gujarat Titans

Team Watch

Chennai Super Kings

Tactics & Matchups: Deepak Chahar is one of the rare bowlers who has had some success against Shubman Gill. The seamer has dismissed the in-form GT opener thrice in 47 balls, while conceding 62 runs, in IPL. His spell upfront will be the key for CSK. Similarly, the out-of-form Ambati Rayudu, could have a role to play in countering Rashid Khan in the middle overs. The batter has scored 91 runs off the leggie in 73 balls, getting dismissed only once.

Probable XII: Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Ambati Rayudu, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana

Gujarat Titans

Tactics & Matchups: Mohammed Shami has dismissed Devon Conway thrice in 12 balls, conceding only 5 runs. He could be the key to give GT the early impetus. On the batting front, Gill will continue to be their trump card. If he manages to start well, he can be effective against Ravindra Jadeja, who hasn’t dismissed him in 48 balls.

The Titans have the opportunity of becoming only the third team, after Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, to defend their IPL title. Both MI and CSK, despite all their success, have managed to defend the title only once. “It’s going to be so hard for them. Impossible,” Fleming joked before praising the Hardik Pandya-led side for being able to make good use of their smart squad selection.

Probable XII: Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha, Sai Sudarshan, Hardik Pandya, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, Josh Little