Chennai Super Kings became the first team to qualify for the finals of the TATA IPL 2023, which will take place on Sunday, May 28 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. They beat the defending champion Gujarat Titans on Tuesday in Qualifier 2 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, to book a seat in the grand finale of the competition.
Notably, it was the 10th time in 14 seasons for MS Dhoni and his men that they reached the finals. CSK has won four titles while facing defeat in five of them. So they have a golden chance to grab their fifth title to equal MI’s record.
But for that, CSK needs to win the final, and the second finalist is yet to be decided. It will be decided after Qualifier 2, which will take place on Friday in Ahemdabad. GT will take on the five-time champion Mumbai Indians, and the winner will face CSK in the final.
Both teams have played a good brand of cricket this season. GT has dominated the group but lost to Chennai in Qualifier 1. But as they will face MI at home, they will have a great chance to win it. On the other hand, MI is currently in brilliant form and winning games with ease. They are coming off a thrashing win over LSG by 81 runs in the Eliminator.
Thus, it will be a high-voltage clash. However, Chris Gayle feels that CSK will not be happy if MI wins Qualifier 2. Mumbai and Chennai share an epic IPL rivalry. These two teams have won and played in most IPL seasons. Both teams have played in four IPL finals against each other, and MI has won three while CSK has one victory in 2010.
Gayle said on Jio Cinema, “They’re (MI) going to GT’s hometown (Ahmedabad), so that’s going to be a big plus for them. That’s something we have to take into consideration. But the momentum is now with Mumbai. Is Mumbai going all the way to the final? If they do, CSK doesn’t want to see a team like Mumbai.”
It will be an epic contest if CSK faces MI in the final. However, GT still has a better chance at home. All in all, we are in for a nail-biting contest ahead.