A final fighting for relevance | PunterPolls Prediction
The IPL final takes place in Kolkata on Sunday, but all the news surrounding the tournament is about events off the field. As Indian cricket and its fans grapple with the dismaying allegations of the past week, the old Apartheid-era slogan - No normal sport in an abnormal society - comes to mind. However, despite the formal charges of corruption against top Super Kings official Gurunath Meiyappan, the 2013 season will reach its scheduled end, when Chennai Super Kings play their fifth IPL final in six seasons, against Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens. An assertion of the game being bigger than the individuals that comprise it, no matter how abnormal the environs.
Super Kings have had an outstanding season, finishing top of the league with 11 wins out of 16 games, and blazed through the first qualifier to seal their finals berth. They are the only team to have won more games than they lost away from home this season; they have the tournament's highest run-scorer and joint top wicket-taker. Their fielders have set standards not matched by most competitors. They have been the IPL's most formidable franchise since its inception, and have the opportunity to enhance that reputation by winning a third title. To do that, however, not only do MS Dhoni's men have to deal with, and overcome the turmoil caused by Meiyappan's arrest, but they also have to deal with a tough opponent.
Mumbai Indians. Their habit of buying the flavours of the season, and of tinkering constantly with their line-up, produced largely disappointing results in IPLs past. This season began the same way, but they took tough decisions - dropping Ricky Ponting and appointing Rohit Sharma as captain - and hit upon a balanced and successful combination earlier than usual. They delighted their home crowds by winning all eight matches at the Wankhede Stadium, but the final is at a neutral venue, and they lost five league games away from home. They are the best franchise to never win the IPL, but that accolade is a slight to the millions that have gone into making the team.
Read more / Source: espncricinfo.com
PunterPolls Predictions
If we look at the Mumbai Indians performances in the last match between Royals, only one expression - Shocking. This team can't play big matches. Their players break down in the pressure just like pop-corn. All they required one good performance in each department batting and bowling. This team with plenty of high profile cricketers with years and years of experience, played like an ordinary team.
On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings star players have played like super stars - Raina, Vijay, Jadeja, Bravo, Morris and who can forget Hussey and Dhoni. This team only can loose if they want to loose. This team does have guts and power to beat 'THE BAND' of best team of the world. Only problem this team having is bowling and that too not to great extent.
As far as today match is concern, Only advantage that Mumbai does have over the CSK is that they have already played once over this ground/pitch. But last match pitch was quite different then the one we have seen in earlier matches of the tournaments. If today's match will going to be on the same pitch, definitely chasing team does have an advantage to chase the target below 175.
Our experts personal choice? - Chennai Super Kings
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IPL 2013: Final - CSK v Mum Indians, 26 May
- Mumbai Indians (61% Votes)
- Chennai Super Kings (39% Votes)