Live Updates

  • 10:40 PM IST

    THAT’S IT! CSK WIN THEIR THIRD CHAMPIONSHIP. SHANE WATSON remains not out on 117*.

    Watto shifted gears and from thereon, he dominated the SRH bowlers. Kaul and Sandeep’s erratic bowling harmed SRH. However, take nothing away from Watson. IMMACULATE INNINGS.
    CSK would be proud of their effort. They are termed as the DADDY ARMY, but have done it in style. On the other hand, SRH would also draw a lot from their effort. Replacing David Warner, Kane Williamson led from the front in his dual roles, and almost took them to title.
  • 10:32 PM IST

    SHANE WATSON, TAKE A BOW. WHAT AN INNNIGS (ESPECIALLY AFTER THAT START).

    Experience, patience, power-hitting and smart batting marks his second ton of the season.
  • 10:30 PM IST

    After 16 overs, CSK are well and truly on top. They need only 25 off 24 balls.

    Watson is nearing his second ton of the season, and will also become the second to score a ton in IPL finals (joining Wriddhiman Saha).
    On the other hand, in-form Ambati Rayudu is looking to match up as well. Rashid’s last over is the only hope for SRH.

  • 10:17 PM IST

    OUT! Raina edges one off Carlos Brathwaite (remember the name), and finally SRH get some respite. The danger man, Watson, is still out there. Their experience still holds them way ahead at the moment.

    Williamson will surely depend on Bhuvi-Rashid to a complete turnaround.
  • 10:13 PM IST

    0 4 6 6 6 Wd 4

    Watson rips apart Sandeep Sharma who has sprayed the balls in all parts to comfort Watto. Who would believe Watto was struggling in the initial overs.
    As a result, CSK 131 for 1 (14). They need only 48 off 42 balls. Watto is on 86*.
  • 9:59 PM IST

    After ten overs, CSK are 80 for 1. This is why they are serious contenders as they not only bat deep, but have talented batters who can shift gears immaculately. After a great start for SRH, they have given away the momentum post Bhuvi’s opening spell. Kaul has been poor whereas Rashid has been played really well by Watto-Raina.

    Both the batsmen have played according to the field and merit of the ball. Watto, after a really slow start, hasn’t given his wicket away and is now past 50.
  • 9:41 PM IST

    From 10 for no loss (3), CSK have surged ahead and are 51 for 1 (7).

    Kaul finished a very ordinary first over; leaking 16 runs. Both Raina and Watson are looking to up the ante.
  • 9:36 PM IST

    After powerplay overs, csk are 35 for 1. They have had some sort of a recovery post their slow start. Watto is looking to accelerate, while Raina is a champion in these mega finals. What has he got in store for us?

  • 9:24 PM IST

    OUT! Faf departs early. With Watto struggling, Faf looked to up the ante and was disguised with the slower one off Sandeep Sharma.

    csk 16-1 (4).
  • 9:19 PM IST

    CSK only 10 for no loss after 3. Brilliant start this from SRH especially courtesy Bhuvi. He has bowled 11 dots in two overs. WOOHOO!

  • 9:10 PM IST
    0 0 0 0 0 0
    Maiden over from Bhuvi
    Watson survives and breathes a sigh of relief. Bhuvi tests him around off-stump and almost has him poking to the keeper, twice.
  • 8:51 PM IST

    SRH manage 178 for 6. Neither team walks off with a certain advantage. SRH were in course for anything over 190, but Ngidi and Thakur’s last overs restricted the run-flow to some extend. Yusuf and Williamson stood tall, whereas others contributed as well.

    Who will have the last laugh, guys? Join us back in a bit. This one is surely going to go down to the wire.
  • 8:32 PM IST

    Three overs to go. SRH 144 for 5.

    Shakib got a start but was unlucky to miss out on a full-toss off Bravo. The onus lies on Yusuf as he loses Hooda for 3 (3). Fasten your seat belts folks, SRH are going all-out.
  • 8:11 PM IST

    OUT! Seeing Williamson charging out of the crease, Karn was smart enough to pitch it way out of his reach (by bowling wide). As a result, the Orange Cap winner (the only contender remains Ambati Rayudu who is at the 4th spot) is stumped out for 47.

    Will this be the turning point of the finale? SRH may crumble as they have a poor lower order. Williamson’s dismissal will certainly have an impact on the final score. At present, they are 108-3 (13).
  • 7:56 PM IST

    Ten overs are gone. SRH 73 for 2.

    Williamson, as usual, holds fort here. If he anchors the innings, with the kind of form he is in, SRH can spring up anything over 160. The pitch is sluggish and holding up already. Over 150 will be crucial here. It is a final, anything can happen infront of Rashid Khan, Siddharth Kaul, Bhuvneshwar Kumar etc.
  • 7:48 PM IST

    OUT! Jaddu cleans up Dhawan as he goes for a sweep and misses the length completely.

  • 7:48 PM IST

    BREAKING: KL RAHUL debuts as commentator. He is present in the selectdugout with Dean Jones and Anil Kumble.

  • 7:43 PM IST

    Bravo’s slower balls have just not been working for him this IPL. After four good balls to start with, he leaks 10 off the last two.

    srh 62-1 (8).
  • 7:39 PM IST

  • 7:38 PM IST

    Both Dhawan and Williamson are looking very comfortable. Karn Sharma bowls his first over; conceding 9 runs.

    SRH 51-1 (7).
  • 7:32 PM IST

    Dhawan and Williamson have put their foot down after a maiden from Ngidi.

    The last two overs have leaked 25 runs. Who will Dhoni bring in after end of Powerplays? SRH 42-1.
  • 7:22 PM IST

    After 4 overs, it hasn’t been a desired start from srh. They are 17 for 1 and it is been difficult to judge the pace of the ball in this surface.

  • 7:12 PM IST

    RUN-OUT! Goswami does nothing significant by replacing injured Wriddhiman Saha in the finale. Dhawan and Goswami’s running between wickets isn’t impressive, and this one adds onto the tally.

    Karn Sharma and MS Dhoni combine to dismiss the left-hander. SRH 13-1.
  • 7:07 PM IST

    After the end of the first over of the grand finale, SRH are 6 for no loss. Chahar started with a beamer, but defended the runs from thereon.

  • 6:53 PM IST
    STATS ALERT

    — Teams winning the toss opting to chase in all four playoffs – 2009, 2014 & 2018
    — Teams opting to chase, winning in finals – RR in 2008 & KKR in 2014
    — No team has beaten an opponent four times in an IPL season. If CSK get the better of SRH tonight, it will be the first ever such instance.
  • 6:49 PM IST

    REWIND THE TOSS:


    So, Dhoni flicked the coin. Williamson shouted TAILS. It came HEAD. As a result, Dhoni won the toss, but there was confusion all around. Sanjay Manjrekar, the legendary commentator that he is (read sarcasm), was confused as ever and looked upto Dhoni for help as to who called what. Manjrekar said, “Who said HEADS”, Dhoni smirked and said, “He (pointing towards Williamson) said TAILS.
    Though Dhoni didn’t answer Manjrekar’s question directly, he still gave the answer. It became too much to understand for Manjrekar, and he stated, “Stop fooling around MS,” and burst into laughter.
    That’s MSD for you. Before the grand finale, he is relaxed as EVER. CAPTAIN COOL FOR A REASON. PERIOD.
  • 6:35 PM IST

    Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Shreevats Goswami(w), Kane Williamson(c), Shakib Al Hasan, Deepak Hooda, Yusuf Pathan, Carlos Brathwaite, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma

vs-Hyderabad

Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s live coverage of IPL 2018. For the one last time, we present our live blog this season. Stay tuned to follow the updates and interesting tweets from the cyberspace. The stage is fittingly set for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), two of the best sides in IPL 2018. The Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai witness the re-match of the Qualifier 1.

Chennai have beaten Hyderabad in all three contests this season. They might have had the upper hand in all the three contests but two of the three wins were far from convincing. SRH were a hit short of a win in Hyderabad, and earlier this week, in the Qualifier 1, they were staring down the barrel when a special feat from Faf du Plessis sealed the game’s fate to their favour.

IPL 2018 Final, Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: Preview, Road to Final, Likely XIs and Predictions
IPL 2018 Final, Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: Preview, Road to Final, Likely XIs and Predictions
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That’s what is good about CSK that they find men for adversities and they know how to win.

SRH managed to apply brakes to their defeat streak thanks to Rashid Khan’s brilliance. Rashid’s all-round show against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on Friday is the reason why they are in the final.

Can Rashid stop the Chennai juggernaut? For a complete side like CSK, SRH will need more than a one-man show.

CSK’s IPL Finals

  • Lost to Rajasthan Royals by 3 wickets at Navi Mumbai, 2008
  • Beat Mumbai Indians by 22 runs at Navi Mumbai, 2010
  • Beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 58 runs at Bengaluru, 2011
  • Lost to Kolkata Knight Riders by 5 wickets at Bengaluru, 2012
  • Lost to Mumbai Indians by 23 runs at Kolkata, 2013
  • Lost to Mumbai Indians by 41 runs at Kolkata, 2015

In IPL 2018

P: 15 | W: 10 | L: 5

 SRH’s IPL Final

  • Beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 8 runs at Bengaluru, 2016

In IPL 2018

P: 16 | W: 10 | L: 5

Likely XIs

CSK probable XI: Faf du Plessis, Shane Watson/Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh/Karn Sharma/Imran Tahir, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Lungi Ngidi

SRH probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Manish Pandey/Deepak Hooda, Yusuf Pathan, Shakib Al Hasan, Carlos Brathwaite, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddharth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma

Head to head: CSK 7 – 2 SRH

One thing for sure, we are in for a cracker!