Having failed to qualify for IPL playoffs for the very first time last year, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are back to where they belong. After becoming the first side to make it to the playoffs this year, CSK is now the first side to enter the final as well.
But what changed this season that the same side made it to its 9th IPL final on the same UAE wickets? Well, for starters, Ruturaj Gaikwad has had a Midas touch and is the 2nd highest run scorer this year with 603 runs. His partner Faf du Plessis has also scored 547 runs and it's only the 3rd time in IPL history that 2 players from same team have gone on to score over 500 runs in a single season. Their contribution has made sure that CSK wasn't hurt despite a shaky middle order.
Apart from that, Jadeja and Rayudu are among top 4 players with the best strike rate this season, who have scored over 200 runs.
Despite 3 consecutive defeats in their last 3 league games, Chennai is now just 1 win away from clinching its 4th IPL title. With MS Dhoni showing glimpses of his vintage best, don't be surprised if the Yellow Brigade go all the way.
Also read: IPL 2021: Dhoni steals Delhi's thunder, CSK win by 4 wickets to enter final