IPL 2023 final: 10 things to know about CSK vs GT final in Ahmedabad
The stage is set for the IPL 2023 final to be played between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday evening (May 28).
CSK are four-time champions while GT won the title in their debut season last year. With no clear favourites, an exciting battle is expected in front of a full house.
Also read: IPL 2023: Dhoni answers big question on his retirement after reaching final
Here are 10 things to know about the IPL 2023 final between CSK and GT
1. CSK will play in their 10th IPL final. Their first appearance was in the inaugural edition in 2008 when they lost to Rajasthan Royals (RR). In their previous nine finals, CSK have won four and lost five
2. GT are playing in their second successive IPL final. They are the first team in the tournament’s history to play in consecutive finals in their first two tournament appearances. GT made their IPL debut in 2022 and won the title
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3. CSK captain MS Dhoni and his teammate Ravindra Jadeja had featured in the first-ever IPL final in 2008. However, back then, they were on opposite sides as Jadeja was with RR. They are the only two players from the inaugural IPL final to play in a title round again, after 15 years
4. Dhoni will become the first player in IPL history to feature in 250 matches. When he walks out for the toss in the final, he will achieve this milestone. All through his IPL career, he has played for only two teams – CSK and the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS). Dhoni was picked by the Pune franchise when CSK was banned for two years
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5. If CSK win the final on Sunday, they will become only the second team to claim five IPL titles, matching the all-time record held by Mumbai Indians
6. Dhoni has a chance to become the oldest IPL captain to win the title. At 41, he is already the oldest IPL captain. Dhoni will turn 42 in July
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7. GT skipper Hardik Pandya has a chance to emulate Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. Hardik can become only the third captain after Dhoni, and Rohit to win successive IPL titles. Dhoni achieved the feat in 2010 and 2011, and Rohit in 2019, 2020
8. Hardik can also achieve another record if he wins on Sunday. He will equal Rohit’s record of winning 6 IPL titles as a player. Rohit won his first IPL trophy with Deccan Chargers (DC) in 2009, and five with Mumbai as the side’s skipper
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9. GT’s 23-year-old Shubman Gill will become the youngest player to win the Orange Cap in IPL history. He is currently the highest run-scorer in IPL 2023 with 851 runs. In IPL 2021, CSK’s 24-year-old Ruturaj Gaikwad became the youngest Orange Cap winner with 635 runs
10. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which will host the IPL 2023 final, is set to eclipse its own world record for match attendance. In IPL 2022 final at the venue, a record 101,566 people witnessed the GT vs RR clash on May 29 last year. This created a Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a T20 game. This time, the attendance is expected to touch 1.25 lakh
Two Captains. Two Leaders. One bond 🤝
It's a bromance that has developed over time 🤗
But come Sunday these two will be ready for 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 ⏳#TATAIPL | #CSKvGT | #Final | @msdhoni | @hardikpandya7 pic.twitter.com/Bq3sNZDgxB
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 27, 2023
Extremely delighted & proud to receive the Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a T20 match when 101,566 people witnessed the epic @IPL final at @GCAMotera's magnificent Narendra Modi Stadium on 29 May 2022. A big thanks to our fans for making this possible! @BCCI https://t.co/JHilbDLSB2
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) November 27, 2022