IPL 2023 Final Preview: History in their mind, deserved finalists CSK and GT aim for a perfect finish

The IPL 2023 final could have not asked for a better setting. Two awesome teams, iconic players and a grand stadium which will be jam-packed. Two of the most consistent sides in the competition – Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans – have fittingly qualified for the summit clash. I had imagined them to make it through to the last-two. I was not surprised when CSK beat GT in the first qualifier, keeping the conditions in mind. In the same regard, with final being played at Ahmedabad, GT now have a slight advantage over CSK. Hardik Pandya’s side has flourished in these conditions and would love playing at home.

GT pacers have done well here. There is going to be a little bit of movement. GT’s seam bowling lineup is in a good order. As I had said in my last article, Josh Little playing in place of Dasun Shanaka is a much better move. Not to forget that Mohit Sharma has been outstanding too. He adds a new dimension to their attack. In a nutshell, with the hard new ball, GT are looking in good shape.

In my view, there is a kind of similarity between the two sides as far as the new-ball bowling is concerned. For CSK, Deepak Chahar and Tushar Deshpande have been outstanding with the new ball. Although I would say that there is a slight advantage for GT with the new ball, however minimal it is, with the options that they have got.

CSK’s opening batters Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad have been excellent throughout the competition. CSK will pin hopes on them for a good start with the bat.

At the same time, Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill too have done a good job at the top for Titans. Saha has blown hot and cold with the bat but with the gloves, he has been outstanding. I am assuming GT are going to stick to the same combination.

Gill has been phenomenal with the way he has gone about doing the job in IPL 2023. It is very challenging to bowl at him. He is quick to pick the lengths and play his shots. Anything bowled short, he swivels and hits boundaries at will on the leg side, playing some eye-pleasing strokes. If I were CSK, I would be thinking about putting a catcher at squarish mid-wicket region for the same shot, hoping he makes one mistake. Unfortunately for the opposition teams, he has not been making many errors while batting these days.

One point of difference between the two sides will be the spin options. I called a CSK win in Chennai in first qualifier because of the spin options they had on the slow and low surface over there. The spin trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali and Maheesh Theekshana enjoy the Chennai like conditions. But on a pitch like the one in Ahmedabad which is conducive for batting, where the ball comes nicely on to the bat, someone like Rashid Khan becomes a more dangerous option. This is because he does not depend just spin to make an impact. Rashid does not need a specific condition or surface to do well. He has great skill to deceive the batters in the air. He has a variety of deliveries up his sleeve and can outthink the batters. He likes to set them up and loves challenges. That probably gives Rashid a slight advantage, from the spin bowling perspective.

I also think that is important to acknowledge the role of the coaching and setups that these players are a part of. It is no co-incident that CSK and GT are in final and are two of the most consistent franchises this season. CSK have been one of the most successful teams in the history of the league. Having selfless players like Stephen Fleming and MS Dhoni in the team in leadership roles has helped built a team environment that is very relaxing and comforting for the players. Titans have an embryonic setup but you sense a similar team environment at GT too as the management continues to get the best out of the players. Mohit is a good example of the same. He came back to IPL after a long layoff but when given a chance, he shone bright at the biggest stage.

Sometimes, we underestimate the importance of an environment where players can thrive. You have teams in IPL which look stronger on paper but somewhere their team environment is not always right. However good your resources are, they cannot thrive in that environment. Both CSK and GT have the kind of setup that allows the players to play their game.

The two captains – Dhoni and Pandya – have played a big role in ensuring the same environment always exists, on and off the field. Dhoni and Pandya are very similar in the way they lead. In a way, one is a master and the other is a apprentice. They both are calm leaders. They share a good relationship with the players and are open to their thoughts but at the same time, they are authoritative in their decision-making.

Coming to the final, if CSK win, it will be a fitting finale for Dhoni. But that is only if Dhoni thinks he’s done with the sport. I have no idea what his plans are but if he decides to call it quits, there would not be a better finish than with the fifth trophy in the hands. I am expecting a fantastic final and feel GT might slightly edge CSK to get the second successive title.