IPL 2023 Final Preview – Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans

IPL 2023 Final Preview – Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans

After 73 matches and over two months of exhilarating action, season 16 of the Indian Premier League comes full circle as the Gujarat Titans take on the Chennai Super Kings in the grand finale on Sunday in Ahmedabad. The two teams met at the same venue in the tournament’s curtain raiser on 31st March and will battle it out for the ultimate prize at the Motera Stadium in the final of IPL 2023.

The Gujarat Titans have been the standout team in the competition, topping the league phase with ten wins from 14 matches, and will be looking to become just the third team in IPL history after MI and CSK to win back-to-back titles. The Chennai Super Kings, on the other hand, have bounced back emphatically after their poor showing last season. The Men in Yellow reached their tenth final in 14 years with their victory over Gujarat in Chepauk in Qualifier 1 and can match Mumbai’s record of five IPL titles with another win over Hardik Pandya’s side in Ahmedabad.

Players to watch out for: 

Shubman Gill

It has been the summer of Shubman Gill in IPL 2023, with the opener topping the run-charts and shattering batting records for fun at the top of the order for the Titans. The 23-year-old has slammed three centuries and 376 runs in his last four matches in the IPL, breaking the record for the most runs scored by a batter in four consecutive innings in T20 history. Gill has redefined modern T20 batting with his glorious touch and elegance, and his record in Ahmedabad, an average of 70 at a strike rate of 157 in 11 innings, gives Gujarat the edge in the final showdown.

Matheesha Pathirana

Matheesha Pathirana has dominated the death overs for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2023, picking up 16 wickets at an economy rate of 7.78 in the last five overs this season. Pathirana has bamboozled batters with his slinging action, searing pace and impressive accuracy, and could be used as a trump card by MS Dhoni to neutralize Gujarat’s tall batting line-up and explosiveness in the slog overs.  

Probable XI’s

CSK: Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana

Impact player: Tushar Deshpande

GT: Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha, Sai Sudarshan, Hardik Pandya, David Miller, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma

Impact player: Josh Little

Writer’s pick

Winner: Gujarat Titans

While MS Dhoni has worked his magic once again to take CSK to their tenth IPL final, the Gujarat Titans may have the edge over the Men in Yellow due to the familiarity of their home conditions and the incredible form of key players such as Shubman Gill, Mohit Sharma, and Rashid Khan.

Chennai Super Kings’ Top Batter & Bowler: Devon Conway and Matheesha Pathirana

Gujarat Titans’ Top Batter & Bowler: Shubman Gill and Mohit Sharma