Cricket Indian Premier League Prediction

Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings - Match Preview

🏏 28 May 2023 - 18:00 GMT +0

Nearly two months after the Indian Premier League (IPL) spectacle started, we are back at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for one final time in this campaign. The teams remain the same – Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT) - as the grand final on Sunday is likely to throw a second-time winner or make Chennai go level with Mumbai for the number of titles (five).

When it comes to an IPL final, even the unflappable MS Dhoni couldn’t brush it aside as “just another final.” The emotional journey of the fans to find out if it is Dhoni’s last IPL campaign continues, and while he hasn’t hinted either way as yet, Dhoni would like to go out on a high in the tenth final of the competition. Their chances may once again hinge on how well their opening pair start as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway have nine 50+ partnerships for the franchise, only behind Murali Vijay & Michael Hussey (13) for the first wicket.

Chances are that the middle order may have to do the heavy lifting to raise the bar and score the maximum. That could put the spotlight firmly on Shivam Dube (33x6) although the legion of Yellow Army swarming the venue will vociferously pitch for Dhoni (SR 185.71) who has been more or less a two-over batter for them this season.

It’s hard not to notice that Dhoni’s protégé and perhaps his follower in captaincy principles – Hardik Pandya – will look to get one over his master. He saw his team come up short by 15 runs in the first qualifier, but a return to the familiar climes of Ahmedabad helped them turn a corner. Gujarat posted their highest total ever in the eliminator against Mumbai (233 for 3) which was also the highest in the playoffs of the competition.

The hosts of the venue may feel the ground turning yellow – a tribute to Dhoni’s potential last season – but won’t mind chasing considering their record of only four defeats while batting second. A big final may see them think twice on that aspect though, as nine of the previous 14 title winners have done so while setting a target. Interestingly, Gujarat’s only title came when they chased, while three of Chennai’s four titles have come when they batted first. When it comes to H2Hs, Gujarat has a 3-1 advantage although Chennai has won the latest game, with all of Gujarat's wins coming while chasing.

⚡ Players to watch: It’s going to be a battle between two rising stars of Indian cricket – one who’s knocking on the doors and another who’s creating records, ready for greater heights. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been a Chennai star for a long and is probably going to play for India T20 regularly from here on. He loves turning up against Gujarat with scores of 73, 53, 92, and 60 (latest).

Ruturaj’s potential India T20I opening partner, Shubman Gill, has already earned his stripes as the potential superstar of all formats. He’s taken his game to the next level in this tournament and loves turning up at this venue. Gill has 4x100 and 3x50 in his last ten innings in different formats at this venue for a total of 787 runs (Avg. 98.38).

📋 Stat attack: The last five matches at this venue were won by the team batting first.

• Seven of the last eight first innings scores at this venue have been 177 runs or greater.
• Chennai has struck the most 6s of the match in ten of their last 14 completed matches.
• Either Shivam Dube or Devon Conway top-scored for Chennai in six of their last seven matches.
• Devon Conway vs Mohammed Shami in the IPL: 5 for 3 in three innings off 12 balls.
• Mohit Sharma vs Ambati Rayudu in the IPL: 54 for 6 from 44 balls in 13 innings (7.36rpo).
• Of the seven 100+ partnerships in the IPL for Gujarat Titans, six featured Shubman Gill and three were between him and Sai Sudharsan.
• During overs 16-20 this IPL campaign, Matheesha Pathirana had the most wickets (16) followed by Mohit Sharma (14) and Tushar Deshpande (11, tied with Harshal Patel & Yuzvendra Chahal).
• Mohammed Shami has accumulated 17 wickets from his eight games in Ahmedabad this year, at an economy rate of fewer than seven runs per over.