IPL final: Chennai worthy favourites after stumping Bangalore batsmen
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Mumbai Indians have already beaten IPL final opponents Chennai Super Kings in two of their three meetings this year, but are rated 11/10 outsiders with Coral to record a third win when it really matters.
This is because the Super Kings bowlers did a superb job in the play-off eliminator to stop Royal Challengers Bangalore’s lauded batsmen in their tracks. Jamaican sensation Chris Gayle may be tailor-made for Twenty-20 cricket, but was a prize wicket for 41 in that contest.
Chennai’s bowling attack also got South Africa big-hitter A B de Villiers out lbw for a single run. Ashish Nehra was also responsible for Virat Kohli going for a dozen, meaning the Super Kings restricted three of the IPL’s five highest-scoring batsmen to a combined tally of just 54.
When punters consider this, it more than justifies Chennani’s status as odds-on 8/11 faovurites to take the IPL title. Left-arm fast bowler Nehra is well worth taking again to best Super Kings bowler at 11/4, and 4/1 to take more wickets than anyone in this match.
The man Chennai need to get out early is Lendl Simmons, who is sixth behind some of Nehra and Bravo’s previous victims in terms of IPL runs this year. At 11/4 to be top Mumbai scorer, the Indian could be one for punters to keep onside.
Compatriot Rohit Sharma is slightly better at a tasty 10/3, and much depends on how well this pair do against Nehra and leading IPL wickets-taker Dwayne Bravo.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has over 350 runs for the Super Kings, so really looks a punt to be their best with the bat at 11/2. Australian veteran Michael Hussey turns 40 next week, and the former test star features in an enhanced special of 7/1 for him to be top batsman and Chennai win.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will be out to scalp these big names, and is 3/1 to be Mumbai’s best bowler, but the Super Kings can be confident about reigning as IPL champions.
