IPL 2019 Final, Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings: Key battles and Probable Playing 11 of MI vs CSK
The stage is set for the summit clash of Indian Premier League 2019 between Rohit Sharma's Mumbai Indians and MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings.
The final of the tournament will witness the fight between the two arch-rivals and that's what the fans wanted from IPL.
As we are in the end game now, both teams have equal chances to lift the cup as after the long journey in the tournament none of the franchise wants to lose from here.
Looking at the balance in both squads, Mumbai Indians are just one step ahead of the defending champions as they have two frontline pacers in Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga, while CSK are still searching their second seamer to join Deepak Chahar in playing XI.
The fifties from Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis had surely released some pressure from MS Dhoni and the management. On thhe other hand Mumbai are looking solid in every department as the openers are giving them good starts, middle-order led by Suryakumar Yadav has fired this season, Kieron Polland and Hardik Pandya are doing their job perfectly in finishing the business. In the bowling, they have one of the strongest bowling lineups in IPL.
Key battles that will intensify the MI vs CSK IPL final clash:
Imran Tahir vs Rohit Sharma
Imran Tahir has been Chennai Super Kings' ace and the South African veteran has wreaked havoc in the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League. While Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma is the man to produce on big stage, Tahir may be a problem for the opener. With 24 wickets in 16 matches played, the veteran is just two wickets away from claiming the purple cap. It will be quite interesting to see how the explosive batsman faces Tahir's spin at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Jasprit Bumrah vs Shane Watson
Last season's finals match-winner Shane Watson is also a man for the big occasions and every team knows, once the Aussie gets going, there is simply no stopping him. However, Mumbai have the No.1 ODI bowler and one of the world's best death-over specialists, Jasprit Bumrah. Besides keeping his overs tight as possible, Bumrah knows what to do when. The pacer has taken 17 wickets in 15 matches played this season while Watto has struggled with form. But at the big stage, each players will go in with all guns blazing. Watching Bumrah face Watson will be an interesting factor.
Rahul Chahar vs Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis has delivered for CSK when the team needs him the most. Along with Shane Watson, the duo have been leading the defending champions forward, but Mumbai have a lethal spinner who has caused many a problem in this edition. Rahul Chahar has been Mumbai's key bowler as he has taken 12 wickets in 12 matches played while Du Plessis has scored 370 runs in 11 matches played. Will Chahar have Du Plessis' number or will the opener make a joke of the spinner. It's all to play in the finals of the IPL.
Probable Playing XI of Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings
Probable Playing XI of MI: Quinton de Kock, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Rahul Chahar, Mitchell McClenaghan, Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah
Probable Playing XI of CSK: Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar
