Match Preview – The Grand Finale
June 1st, 2008Editorial: Mohit Goyal
Indian Premier League (IPL) Match Preview – The Grand Finale
The Armies – Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings
Rajasthan Royals made brief work of it with an emphatic 105 run win over the Delhi Daredevils on Friday. Chennai Super Kings, the firm non-favorites beat Kings XI Punjab by 9
wickets with overs to spare.
The Battleground – DY Patil Cricket Stadium, Navi Mumbai, Mumbai
While the pitch at Wankhede had help for spinners, the pitch at this ground has more pace and bounce. Rajasthan bowlers have bowled well on most pitches. Chennai with Ntini, Morkel and Gony will be happier to play on this sort of pitch and absence of Graeme Smith on this sort of pitch will be a factor. Rajasthan have played a match at this ground. Although they were shot out here by Mumbai but Warne would surely have picked a point or two.
Weighing the Heavy Weights
Results are fore tellers of glory and these teams have the results to show. Whatever might have been the standings in the league, Chennai are through to the finals. If the organizers are able to get a window for a Champion’s league this year, these will be the two teams representing IPL there. Presence of Hayden, Hussey and Oram will be huge factor there.
Looking ahead to the finals, all what’s been done, achieved, not achieved is on the back burner and it will be the performance in those 180 minutes that will count for glory or regrets. And off those 40 overs, the first 4 overs of each innings are going to have a huge say on which way the game goes. The pitch will probably have bounce and pace and the team that takes wickets or is able to play those overs out safely will have a huge advantage.
Jab we met
When these teams met at Jaipur, Royals beat Super Kings comfortably by 8 wickets courtesy the best ever T20 bowling spell of 6 wickets for 14 runs by wrong footed Pakistani speedster Sohail Tanveer. Second time round at Chennai it was a closer affair. Morkel tried his best but Royals managed to win by 10 runs.
The previous results will play on the minds but the big factor is going to be the absence of South African skipper Graeme Smith, who has played a huge role in Royals’ success.
I am the best
Words are few to describe the job Warny and MSD have done as men in charge. Warny has been superb and just about out of reach for others. MSD on the other hand has been cool, calm, collected and the adjectives could go on and on. He wouldn’t admit ever but it’s probably his magic that led this limited resourced team after the departure of Hayden and Hussey to the finals of this event. They must have kept strategies and surprises up their sleeves and this will probably be the most intriguing battle within the battle to watch out for.
Jump Start
In the absence of Graeme Smith, Rajasthan will probably open with Kamran Akmal. They will want him and the flashy dashy Asnodkar to give them a brisk start. This could just give the launch pad to the likes of Watson and Pathan and then they could take the game away from Chennai. Chennai although have lost Fleming but will be hoping that Parthiv and Vidyut give them a flying start so that they can have Dhoni and Morkel coming up the order and get them a big score.
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Warne’s Corner
It might seem that Warne’s tactic to send Tanveer up the order hasn’t worked. But he has got 10-15 quick runs and that does matter a lot in a 20 over game. Warne would look to that today as well at some time when the opposition would be expecting it the least. Warne will enjoy the bounce on the pitch and may just come into bowl within the power plays or even bring in Pathan.
All Round Corner
Chennai and Rajasthan depend heavily on Albie Morkel and Shane Watson respectively. These gentlemen can get into a team just as pure batsmen or pure bowler. They can open the bowling, open the batting, pluck catches off thin air and get crucial run outs. Watson may be has a little more natural talent but both are capable of turning a match on its head. Both are coming in with good outings in the semis and their performances in the final will have a huge bearing on the outcome of the match.
Wicket Keeping Woes
Dhoni is unlikely to keep wickets, Parthiv has improved a lot but still he has some way to go. Akmal’s wicket keeping too hasn’t been world class be any means. A chance missed by any of these could prove costly and big spinning deliveries from Murali and Warne will only make things difficult for them.
War of the Wizards
A struggle within the battle to watch out for will be Warne versus Murali. Both will want to give their team the edge with some tight bowling.
Toss Tell
The team that wins the toss would want to bat first to put pressure with runs on board but the skippers probably won’t mind even bowling first on a faster and bouncier pitch.
Look out for
Rajasthan Royals – Shane Watson, Swapnil Asnodkar
Chennai Super Kings – Makhaya Ntini, Albie Morkel
Betting Meter
Rajasthan Royals are higher on betting meter with added returns of around 60 percent on most betting meters while a bet on Chennai Super Kings brings home an additional 125 percent with a win.
Verdict
Rajasthan Royals are the firm favorites but this is a high pressure situation and they will be missing the experience of Graeme Smith. Shane Warne will have plans and strategies chalked out by now but Smith’ absence could have a say in the result.
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