Indian T20 League 2023 

Final: CHE vs GUJ

Preview 

After 73 matches, we’ve finally got the finalists of the Ind T20 League 2023. Reigning champions Gujarat will look to defend their title against MS Dhoni’s Chennai at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday, May 28. The inaugural match of this edition was played between these two sides at this very venue and two and a half months later, we’re back at that. While Chennai (CHE) got the better of Gujarat (GUJ) in Qualifier 1 to become the first side to book their place in the final, Gujarat defeated Mumbai (MUM) in the Qualifier 2 to reach the finale. 

CHE has arguably been one of the most formidable sides in this competition. Led by MS Dhoni, the men in yellow have reached the finals for a record 10th time. They will look to cap off a season which has gone in their favour for the most parts on a happy note. CHE enters the upcoming match as a confident side, boosted by their recent victory over GUJ. However, the MS Dhoni-led team remains cautious due to their overall record against the reigning champions and their unfortunate winless streak in previous visits to Ahmedabad. In the batting department, CHE possess the quality of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway up top. The opening pair has added 775 runs, in Ind T20 League 2023, the second-most runs added by any pair. Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube at three and four respectively have been critical for CHE’s success this year. The resurgence of Rahane as a potent striker is the surprise story of the season. He has scored 299 runs in 13 innings at a blistering strike rate of 169.89. Duble is another player who has grabbed headlines with his valuable contributions throughout the season. His ability to clear the ball at will is unmatched. With 386 runs in 13 innings, the southpaw has emerged as one of the fiercest strikers this season. The lower order comprises all rounders Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja and skipper Dhoni. Their experience and pyrotechnics at the back end can propel CHE to a competitive total. When it comes to bowling then there is no shortage of variety for the visitors. Deepak Chahar and Tushar Deshpande will shoulder the new ball responsibility for them. Chahar was phenomenal in the last game. He will try to replicate the same performance on Sunday. Desphande on the other hand has been a revelation for them. With 21 scalps, the speedster is amongst the leading wicket takers this season. Matheesha Pathiran has been mighty impressive during the death overs. Affectionately known as baby Malinga, the 20 year old has been bang on with his toe crushing yorkers and deceptive pace variations. Mahesh Theekshana, Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali will form the bulwark of CHE’s spin bowling. 

GUJ will look to avenge Qualifier 1 loss to CHE when they take the field against them one final time in the Final this season. They are coming off a convincing 62 run win over MUM and will be raring to continue the winning momentum. Shubman Gill has been at the helm of all positive outcomes for the defending champions this season. The talismanic GUJ batter has scored three centuries in his last four outings. And it’s not just the tons but the way he has scored each of the three centuries is simply scintillating. The young prodigy has smashed a six every 16 balls- a significant improvement from his record till the previous seasons. Last night was another classical show of his six hitting evolution. His 129 run knock, which came off just 60 balls, was studded with 7 fours and 10 towering sixes. Given the current exceptional form he has displayed, it wouldn't be surprising to witness another century in the final. Ms Dhoni will be wary of the Gill threat and will look to get him out early. If CHE could hold him back, they would have completed half of their task, and Dhoni's wager would be on the swing maestro Deepak Chahar to step up when needed. Apart from Gill, GUJ has skipper Hardik Pandya, David Miller, Sai Surdarshan and Rahul Tewatia in their batting lineup. Each of them is capable enough to shift the game in the home side’s favour. Rashid Khan, who is widely recognised for his spin bowling, has proved to be a dangerous striker down the order. The bowling prowess looks potent with the perfect mix of pace and spin. Mohammad Shami will have the onus to get the early breakthroughs with the new ball.   

Mohit, who picked a fifer in the last game, will take the death bowling duties. In the spin unit, the hosts have the Afghan spin twins of Rashid and Noor Ahmed. The duo has 41 wickets between them. Ahead of this enthralling finale, let us have a look at how the two sides will fare out on Sunday. 

Match Details

Match: CHE vs GUJ, Final, Indian T20 League 2023

Date: Sunday, May 28, 2023

Time: 7:30 PM

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Pitch and Weather Report

The matches held at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium in recent times have been characterised by high-scoring affairs, as teams have managed to post imposing totals. The pitch has predominantly favoured batsmen, enabling them to accumulate runs with relative ease once they find their rhythm. Nevertheless, bowlers have found success by employing changes in pace and spin to keep the run rate in check. The outcome of the toss could prove crucial, as the team winning it would probably choose to bat first and establish a formidable score.

Scattered clouds with little to no chances of rain is forecasted on matchday. 

CHE vs GUJ Squads

CHE: MS Dhoni (c & wk), Moeen Ali, Bhagath Varma, Deepak Chahar, Devon Conway, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad, RS Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Matheesha Pathirana, Dwaine Pretorius, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Ambati Rayudu, Mitchell Santner, Subhranshu Senapati, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Ben Stokes, Maheesh Theekshana, Sisanda Magala, Akash Singh 

GUJ: Hardik Pandya (c), Srikar Bharat, Alzarri Joseph, Joshua Little, Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Darshan Nalkande, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, Urvil Patel, Rashid Khan, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Sai Sudharsan, Pradeep Sangwan, Vijay Shankar, Mohit Sharma, Shivam Mavi, Shubman Gill, Odean Smith, Rahul Tewatia, Matthew Wade, Jayant Yadav, Yash Dayal, Dasun Shanaka 

CHE vs GUJ Probable Playing XIs

CHE: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni(C), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mahesh Theekshana

GUJ: Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya(C), Sai Sudharsan, David Miller, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Wriddhiman Saha(wk), Rashid Khan, Mohammad Shami, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad

Match Prediction

GUJ holds the upper hand in the head to head battle. Out of the four matches played between CHE and GUJ in the competition, CHE emerged victorious in only one game, while GUJ triumphed in three encounters. Both teams are equally competitive on paper and it is difficult to call a winner. However, looking at the current form, we back Dhoni and co to win this final and lift their fifth trophy. 

Top Fantasy Picks

Shubman Gill: The prince of Indian Cricket Team is in scintillating form at the moment. He is currently the orange cap holder with 851 runs in 16 games. Gill scored a breathtaking 129 against MUM in the last game. 

Rashid Khan: This season, he has displayed exceptional bowling skills and ranks as the second-highest wicket-taker. With a tally of 27 wickets in 16 matches, he boasts an impressive average of 18.8, an economy rate of 7.93, and a remarkable strike rate of 14.22. His consistent form with the ball has been truly outstanding.

Ruturaj Gaikwad: With half-centuries in his previous two matches, he has emerged as one of CSK's top performers this season. In 14 innings, he has amassed an impressive total of 564 runs at an average of 43.38 and a strike rate of 146.87.

Ravindra Jadeja: In this season, he stands as the second-leading wicket-taker for CHE, having claimed 19 wickets in 15 games with an impressive average of 20.68. His economy rate stands at 7.41, showcasing his ability to restrict runs, while his strike rate of 16.73 highlights his effectiveness in taking wickets. Additionally, Jadeja has also contributed with the bat, scoring 175 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 137.79.

Risky Captaincy Choice

Ajinkya Rahane is our pick for this segment. The stylish batter started the tournament with a bang but fizzled out soon. He hasn’t been in the best of touch of late but certainly has the potential to step up and come out good at the grandest of occasions.

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