The sixteenth edition of the IPL has come to a full circle. The two sides played the tournament opener on March 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Almost two months later, the same venue is going to host the same teams in the mega final.
It seems as if it was destined that GT captain Hardik Pandya will have a go at his mentor and CSK captain MS Dhoni in what could be his last match in the IPL. It has been highly anticipated that the 41-year-old talismanic captain would bid adieu to the game after the IPL 2023 season.
Dhoni, however, hasn’t confirmed anything yet. Regardless, fans are prepared and wishing for Dhoni’s CSK to win the summit clash. Fans have flocked the stadium in huge numbers throughout the season to get a glimpse of the revered cricketer. Everyone wants to see ‘Thala’ finish his glorious cricketing journey on a high.
But all said, it’s quite evident that GT will have an upper hand in the match. Here’s why Gujarat Titans look set to spoil CSK’s party in the IPL 2023.
Why GT will beat CSK in the IPL 2023 final
Home ground advantage
Gujarat Titans (GT) have won five of their eight home games this year ahead of the final. They have also won each of their last three matches in Ahmedabad with comprehensive margins. The side knows the conditions, dimensions and different angles of the ground better than the opposition.
CSK lost their series opener at the same venue by five wickets. After CSK defeated Gujarat Titans by 15 runs in the Qualifier 1, the GT unit got back their mojo at the same venue as they beat Mumbai Indians (MI) by 62 runs in the Qualifier 2.
Mind you that GT thrashed five-time champions MI despite losing the toss. CSK will have to work a lot extra to snatch the trophy from GT at their own den.
The Shubman Gill factor
The insane batting form of Shubman Gill will come across as a massive threat for CSK. He was his side’s leading run-scorer in the Qualifier 1 against CSK as well. On a very difficult batting surface, Gill scored 42 off 38 balls.
The last four innings have seen him score three hundreds. Gill (851 runs), the highest run-scorer in the IPL 2023, has scored 533 runs at an average of 76.14 and a strike rate of 171.38 from eight matches of IPL 2023 in Ahmedabad. Two hundreds and three fifties have come off his bat at this venue in the season.
The 23-year-old opener top-scored for his side with 63 off 36 in the tournament opener against CSK as well. Gill has liked batting against CSK bowlers and he would be aiming for another runaway innings on Sunday.
GT’s lethal bowling attack
The top three highest wicket-takers in IPL 2023 are from Gujarat Titans. Mohamed Shami is the Purple Cap-holder with 28 wickets at an average of 17.60 and an economy rate of 7.95. Star leg-spinner Rashid Khan is second with 27 wickets at an average of 18.80 and an economy rate of 7.93.
Mohit Sharma picked a five-wicket haul in Qualifier 2. He is now third with 24 wickets at an average of 13.54 and an economy rate of 13.54. Apart from the trio, there is left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad who has picked 14 wickets at an average of 25.14 and an economy rate of 7.96.
Alzarri Joseph and Joshua Little have also chipped in times of need. Hardik Pandya has also returned to bowling ahead of the final. In the Qualifier 2, his 146 km/h short ball forced Cameron Green to retire hurt briefly.
The quality and variation of GT bowlers can emerge as a major threat for MS Dhoni’s CSK who have relied mostly on the batting brilliance of their openers and Shivam Dube.
Dhoni and his team will walk into the match with a huge burden of expectation. It will neither be easy for Dhoni nor his team. The pressure of being one of the most successful teams in the final and the playoffs of IPL will also play a role.
Not many greats of the game have had a perfect farewell game. Further, CSK will be challenging GT in front of their own people who are expected to turn up in record-breaking numbers. CSK have found massive fan support in away games as well but as Hardik said during the toss in Qualifier 2 – ‘Gujarati people are loyal’ and they are very likely to make CSK feel the heat of an away final.
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