IPL 2018: Mouth-watering clashes that could decide CSK vs SRH final showdown
Mumbai: After two months of madness, the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL) has come down to the last match of the season i.e the grand finale.
The stage is set for high voltage clash between the two best teams of the tournament. It is a battle which sees the best chasing side take on the best bowling attack.
Chennai Super Kings led by 'captain cool' Mahendra Singh Dhoni take on Sunrisers Hyderabad led by Kane Williamson to decide the winner of the eleventh edition.
There will be no shortage of entertaining cricket as players from both the teams will be putting in their 100 percent in this very important clash.
Here are some of the key battles to look out for during the game.
Lungi Ngidi vs Kane Williamson
SRH skipper Williamson has been the best batsman for his side in the tournament. He is currently the leading run-getter in the tournament (688 runs) and will need to cope with in-form CSK pacer Ngidi.
The South African has been in great form for the yellow brigade in the tournament scalping 10 wickets in 6 games. If the tall pacer finds his rhythm in the early stage, the SRH batting lineup could in serious trouble.
Rashid Khan vs MS Dhoni
One of the most mouth-watering clash to watch out for. The last time these two faced each other (qualifier 1) it was the Afghan spinner who won the battle.
Rashid has been the go-to guy for Williamson, whenever the team has needed wickets and this time also he will have the task of keeping the 'Thala' (MS Dhoni) quiet.
Deepak Chahar vs Shikhar Dhawan
CSK pacer Deepak Chahar has taken 10 wickets from 11 games. His ability to swing the ball could become a problem for SRH opener Shikhar Dhawan who is expected to play a big role in the final.The left-hander has been the consistent batsman for the side scoring 471 runs in 15 matches and will shoulder the responsibility to give an explosive start to his side at the top.
Shakib- Al-Hasan vs Ambati Rayadu
Ambati Rayadu has been a bargain buy for the former champions. Asked to open the innings, the Hyderabad born batsman has surprised everyone with his form by scoring 586 runs with 1 century and 3 half century.
Shakib-Al-Hasan has been quietly doing the job of scoring runs and picking up wickets for his side. His ability to slow down the run flow and pick up crucial wickets will come in handy for SRH in the final.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Siddharth Kaul vs Shane Watson and Suresh Raina
Shane Watson has flourished under MS Dhoni's tutelage and has been in cracking form throughout the tournament. He has s far scored 438 runs in 14 matches and will play a crucial role in the final as an opener. The 'Chinna Thala' (Raina) has always delivered on the big stage and once again he will be expected to do well with the bat.
The SRH duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Siddharth Kaul will look to run through CSK batting line up on Sunday. Bhuvneshwar has had a quiet season picking up just 9 wickets. His economical spell and crucial overs in the death will be crucial for SRH victory.
Siddharth Kaul has had an amazing season scalping 21 wickets in 16 games. His wicket to wicket line has not allowed batsmen to score freely and once again he will have the task of picking wickets and stopping the run flow for the side.
