Fight to the finish!

It’s D-Day for Mumbai and Chennai as they battle it out tonight for IPL glory. Harsha Bhogle previews the big finale.

The ipl needs a grandstand final because it is going rapidly downhill. The champions league playoff match was insipid and tame. There were meant to be two teams contesting it but only one turned up. Pity. There is much to be proud of to play in the champions league, not to mention the financial benefits.

Anil kumble was man of the match again. He had to be persuaded to play this IPL and he has emerged trumps again. It tells me that genuine class and commitment always comes through. As it has with Rahul Dravid. I don’t know how much the IPL would figure in their plans twelve months from now but with this win, they have a commitment in September!

Hopefully, too, the DY Patil stadium will get its buzz back for the final. The home team is playing (even though it was designated the Chargers’ home ground for a while!) And all talk will be centred around Sachin Tendulkar and his prospects for the game.

I have been talking to a few people and the impression is that he will find it very difficult to play but that it is not impossible. If that is right, Mumbai Indians will receive a great boost. This is not the easiest wicket to score runs on and it needs clever batsmen as much as it does powerful ones. It is a good batsman’s wicket and hence the greater need for Tendulkar.

If however he cannot play, it raises the question of who to replace him with. Open with McLaren and Dhawan in a final? Doesn’t seem right. Jayasuriya for Fernando might be an option but it will also require another change since a seam bowler is needed… too unwieldy. In any case, they will need to strengthen batting and that means that an all-rounder must replace Fernando who, ironically, has looked good. Maybe Duminy to open may not be a bad idea.

Chennai look settled even though they scraped through. Their bench is very weak and so the players who played the last game should make the final. Their only concern will be Matthew Hayden and whether or not to replace him with Mike Hussey. I think they will give the big man another go.

It is an open game though Mumbai Indians must start favourites. Either way the tournament needs a finish to rival the first two finals.