Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and opted to field first in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 final against Gujarat Titans (GT) at Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium on the reserve day. Both Dhoni and Hardik Pandya trusted in their winning combination and did not make any changes in the playing XI.
“We'll bowl first with the rain forecast being around. Yesterday we were in the dressing room. As a cricketer you always want to play. It was the crowd that suffered the most. Hopefully we can entertain them. Pitch has been under cover for a long time, but throughout the tournament the pitch has behaved well over here. Quite happy it will be a 20-over game we'll be playing. Serves justice to the tournament like this. Same team,” Dhoni said after winning the toss.
“Would've bowled first as well, but my heart wanted to bat so I don't mind losing the toss. We spoke that it is something out of our control (weather). Whichever team plays better will have their hands on the trophy. I like keeping the boys cool, and they repay me. It's a flat track (what he makes of the pitch?). Same team,” Pandya said at the coin toss.
Head-to-head
GT have had a better record against CSK with three wins from four games. CSK have never beaten GT at league stage. CSK beat GT for the first time in IPL 2023 Qualifier 1.
Weather Forecast
Rain is expected to play spoilsport between 8 PM to 10 PM. However, it may not lead to match getting abandoned.
What if reserve day gets washed out
If the final is abandoned again, GT will win their second consecutive title as they finished at the top of the points table with 20 wins from 14 games at league stage.
GT Playing XI: Wriddhiman Saha(w), Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya(c), Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Mohammed Shami
CSK Playing XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w/c), Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana
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