IPL 2018 | For me, it will be Rashid Khan vs the Chennai batsmen, says Kumar Sangakkara

After the IPL’s auction this year, many believed that Chennai Super Kings had picked a side that was a bit too old. But qualifying to the final of the ongoing edition of IPL, CSK have proved everyone wrong, who thought that the age factor would be a disadvantage to them. Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara believed that CSK had very ‘specific’ ideas heading into the auction and so far implemented the ideas well on their road to the final. 

“CSK picked the side with a very specific purpose. They had a clear idea who they wanted to get. They settled on the players who had the ability but also experience on their side and it has worked for them so far,” Sangakkara told TOI on the sidelines of ‘The Dugout Debate’ ahead of Sunday’s final.

Sangakkara insisted that Chennai would be heading into the final full of confidence and having already beaten SRH three times in the ongoing season, would be looking to make it four wins in the final. 

“We don’t know how much this extended break between matches will help Chennai. We’ll have to see if it works out in their favour. But CSK will be heading into the final full of confidence, having already beaten the Sunrisers three times this season and they’ll be hoping if they can make it a fourth on Sunday,” he said. 

Australian batsman Dean Jones suggested the teams should get their big hitters in early in the match and pointed out that teams that make the least mistakes on the day generally comes out on top.

“Key is to get some of the bangers (big hitters) out before the 16th over. There is the additional pressure of a final. We have usually seen that finals are won by the team that makes the least mistakes,” Jones said.

Asked about Dhoni’s captaincy, Jones said, “MS (Dhoni) has his own style of captaincy, he waits for the opposition to make mistakes by squeezing the life out of opposing teams. Kane (Williamson) is different because we saw bat-pads, slips and that was what got (Andre) Russell out on Friday.”

Sangakkara, meanwhile, insisted that the course of the match would be determined by how Chennai handle Rashid Khan and emphasized that it would Rashid Khan versus the Chennai batsmen. 

“For me, it will be Rashid Khan vs the Chennai batsmen. That is one of the reason (Ambati) Rayudu has dropped down to No. 4 to handle the threat of Rashid with Suresh Raina. How Chennai handle SRH pacers on the Wankhede track in the early over and how they deal with Rashid in the middle will dictate the course of the final,” the Lankan said.