IPL 2018 Final: MS Dhoni against Kane Williamson and other key battles in CSK-Sunrisers title clash

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  • There will be key battles galore when CSK take on SRH in the IPL final.

    After nearly two months of high-octane T20 cricket, the IPL is preparing for its final act with the title showdown between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad set to take place in Mumbai on Sunday.

    The two teams finished on top of the eight-team pile at the end of the preliminary round and their paths will cross again for the fourth time this year when they meet at the Wankhede Stadium.

    As the two teams get ready for the final, we take a look at three key battles which could decide the outcome of the match.

    MS DHONI V KANE WILLIAMSON

    Sunday’s clash between Chennai and Hyderabad will not just be a match-up between two highly talented teams but also two equally inspirations skippers.

    With this being his eighth IPL final in 11 years, MS Dhoni’s tactical acumen in the IPL has never been in doubt. On his part, Kane Williamson has also given a terrific account of his leadership skills in his maiden IPL captaincy stint following the absence of David Warner.

    Apart from some astute captaincy, the Blackcaps skipper has led from the front with the bat. Williamson, holder of the Orange Cap, has scored 688 runs so far this season at an average of 52.92 and a strike-rate of 143.33.

    Dhoni has not been far behind when it comes to leading by example either. The 36-year-old has gathered 455 runs at a staggering average of 75.83 and a strike-rate of over 150.

    How the two captains fare with both bat and mind on Sunday will have a huge bearing on the outcome.

    RASHID KHAN V AMBATI RAYUDU

    Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has all but cemented his status as the best bowler in the T20 format. The 19-year-old has picked up 21 wickets at an economy rate of below seven runs an over.

    More than his tally of wickets, it is Rashid’s ability to strike whenever his skipper needs him that has been praiseworthy. Rashid is well and truly in teh zone, possessing the confidence and ability to change the complexion of the game in the blink of an eye.

    On the other hand, Ambati Rayudu has had a season to remember himself. The Chennai Super Kings batsman is the fourth-highest run-getter this season with 584 runs at an average of 41.85.

    With just one run scored in his last two innings, Rayudu is due a big one on Sunday. If he can get off to a start, Rashid might be called into action early to contain him.

    LUNGI NGIDI V SHIKHAR DHAWAN

    Apart from Williamson’s contributions, Shikhar Dhawan’s runs at the top have been equally crucial for the Sunrisers. The left-handed opener started the tournament on fire with knocks of 90 and 45 but then went off the boil.

    He has found his groove again with three half-centuries in his last six matches. Lucky for the Sunrisers as they are very much dependent on Williamson and Dhawan when it comes to batting.

    How Dhawan fares against South African pacer Lungi Ngidi will be key on Sunday. The 22-year-old missed a big part of the tournament due to the death of his father but he has shown why Chennai so desperately wanted his services.

    The pacer has bowled with fire and venom in the six matches he has played so far and has already picked up 10 wickets in just six games. His spell of 4-10 in the win over Kings XI Punjab was a joy to watch and he could create big problems for Dhawan with his bounce and sharp pace.

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