IPL 2015 Final Chennai vs Mumbai: Who has the Edge?
There is rain expected in Kolkata during the IPL final but both teams are gearing up for one final triumph. It's Dhoni's consistent Super Kings vs Rohit's red hot Mumbai Indians. Who has the edge?
After 45 days and 59 matches, the last two teams are left standing in IPL 2015. The freakishly consistent Chennai Super Kings and the red hot team of the tournament at the moment, Mumbai Indians. (Complete IPL 2015 coverage | Stats | Photos)
The final on Sunday (If the rain in Kolkata stays away) will be a repeat of the 2013 final which Mumbai won, beating Chennai at the Eden Gardens. Michael Hussey has said, "It should be a cracker of a game and we can't wait for it." The big question though is who has the edge? The most steady tea across all IPL seasons or the one that's in red hot form at the moment? (Harbhajan Singh's comeback: Thank God for IPL)
The reason Hussey sounds so upbeat is perhaps thanks to not just his return to form in Qualifier 2. The Super Kings after all are the most consistent team of the IPL. They are in their 6th final in 8 years. The team now stands on the threshold of a historic win. They could become the first IPL team to win the coveted title thrice. (Dale Steyn not a feared bowler anymore?)
The final though will not be an easy outing for the Super Kings. The Mumbai Indians might be late-bloomers this season, but they are also the only team in the IPL that has a better head-to-head record vs Dhoni's boys. The Mumbai Indians have a 11-10 overall win-loss record vs the Super Kings. Overall Chennai have won 1 title more and they finished one spot higher than Mumbai on the points table after the league stage. (IPL teams not top paymasters?)
One slight worry for Mumbai could be the fact that they have had a 4 day break between their last match and the final. Sometimes players can lose their rhythm in such cases. NDTV cricket expert and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has said, "They (Mumbai) will want to get off to a very good start in the final, because if they do that, the rhythm will come back, the confidence in the dugout will be high."
© BCCI
The biggest worry for the opposite camp meanwhile, will be their overall form this season. With 9 wins and 5 losses in the league stage, CSK did finish on top of the points table, but haven't managed to look really menacing yet. Brendon McCullum leaving for international duty has also been a big blow. Gavaskar observed, "In all these years, Chennai have not looked as vulnerable as they have this season."
The final will be played at the Eden Gardens. It's a venue that traditionally assists the spinners. However, with the home team Kolkata Knight Riders out of the contest, the pitch according to reports could have a healthy covering of grass. Seamers and not spinners might be the happier lot.
The one big positive for Chennai is that Michael Hussey seems to have come into his own. With no Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith still struggling to remain consistent, Hussey's 46 ball 56 run knock vs Bangalore on a tricky Ranchi pitch in Qualifier 2 was a huge shot in the arm for CSK.
As far as Mumbai are concerned, their skipper Rohit Sharma has had quite the love affair with the Eden and his team will be looking up to him to play a title winning role.
Rain could play spoilsport in Kolkata on Sunday, but there is a reserve day on Monday. Chennai and Mumbai fans though will be hoping for a full 40 overs on super Sunday itself.