MS Dhoni. The man, the myth, the legend is in another IPL final!
Even in the twilight of his career, at 41, Chennai Super Kings' 'Thala' can weave magic with the bat and turn matches with his impeccable bowling changes.
In this edition of IPL, a sea of yellow has followed him across the length and breadth of the country wherever he has set foot.
It would not be surprising if the Narendra Modi Stadium turns up in CSK colours too despite Gujarat Titans, the local team, vying for their second title in as many as years.
𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 🙌@ChennaiIPL enter the #TATAIPL Final for a record 10th time! 🥳#TATAIPL | #Qualifier1 | #GTvCSK pic.twitter.com/f5nfAfMc7X
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 23, 2023
MS Dhoni in IPL 2023 Final
This is not uncharted territory for Dhoni. He has led CSK in nine IPL finals and has won four of them. However, the 2023 final might be his most challenging.
GT are a well-oiled machine and their skipper Hardik Pandya has a 100 per cent record in IPL's summit clash. They have Shubman Gill, who is playing the best cricket of his life and has already smashed three centuries in the tournament. Moreover, in Mohamed Shami and Rashid Khan, they have arguably the best pacer and spinner of the tournament.
MORE: Bet on CSK vs GT in the IPL Final here
The team which vanquished the Mumbai Indians in the playoffs are a formidable unit with little chinks in their armour. Moreover, at home, GT have looked invincible on occasions as Pandya reads the conditions to perfection and does the needful; be it shuffling the batting order or bringing the right changes while bowling.
In the previous game against MI, he promoted Sai Sudarshan ahead of himself at no.3, which worked wonders, and preserved Mohit Sharma for the death overs which again proved to be a masterstroke as the bowler ended with a fifer.
Anbuden ➡️ Ahmedabad with a million whistles! 🥳#GTvCSK #WhistlePodu #Yellove 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/Tyjhxd1Nsf
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 23, 2023
Which players could win the IPL Final for CSK?
CSK also have some heavy artillery. Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad have been firing on all cylinders upfront while, 'baby Malinga', Matheesha Pathirana has been a revelation for the yellow army in this edition of IPL with his precise death bowling.
The troops will be giving their all on the field for Dhoni as it might be his last appearance in IPL, or for that matter as a professional cricketer. CSK trails Sharma's MI by one IPL title.
For a captain who has won all three ICC trophies the result on Sunday will have little impact on his exalted legacy. However, bowing out of cricket with another trophy in the bag which will help CSK become the most successful IPL franchise, alongside MI, could be a perfect swansong for the 'captain cool'.
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