The stage is set for the IPL 2023 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This ground has witnessed some big scores in the past, and we may witness another high-scoring match tonight. The defending champion Gujarat Titans will take on the four-time champions Chennai Super Kings in the final. While MS Dhoni leads the CSK, Hardik Pandya is in charge of the Titans. Dhoni and Pandya are often referred to as guru and chela. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top tonight. The match starts at 7.30 pm, and there is no chance of rain.
Talking about IPL 2023, there have been eight matches played at the venue till now. The average score in the first innings is 193 runs, which indicates how much the batsmen enjoy playing here. In qualifier-2, the Titans posted a massive score of 233 runs on the back of Shubman Gill's century. The team batting first has won five out of eight matches played here so far. It will be interesting to see what decision the captains make after winning the toss. CSK has not won a single match at this venue yet.
How will Dhoni's team turn the tables?
Chennai Super Kings, one of the successful teams in IPL history, has won the title four times. Therefore, Mahendra Singh Dhoni would want to level Mumbai Indians' record of five titles by winning tonight's final. On the other hand, Hardik Pandya would want to help the Titans win their second consecutive title. Dhoni's team has not won a single match in Ahmedabad yet, and they have lost all three matches played here. On the other hand, the Titans have won six out of nine matches played here. Thus, Pandya's team has a slight edge over Dhoni's team. Both teams have played two matches against each other in IPL 2023 so far. The Titans won the opening match of the tournament, while CSK defeated the Titans in the qualifier-1 to secure a place in the final.
Eyeing the fifth title
Chennai Super Kings would like to equal Mumbai Indians' record of winning five titles in IPL history. Dhoni has announced that this will be his last season, and he would want to leave on a high note. On the other hand, Hardik Pandya would like to add another title to his collection and help the Titans win their second consecutive title.
Rain unlikely to play spoilsport
There is no threat of rain in Ahmedabad on Sunday. So, we can expect an uninterrupted match between the Titans and the Super Kings. IPL 2023 has witnessed 73 matches so far, with one match getting abandoned due to rain. Out of the remaining 72 matches, the team batting first has won 40 matches, while the team batting second has won 32 matches. Thus, both Dhoni and Pandya would like to set a massive total in the final. Players like Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad would be looking to perform well on this big stage.