After 58 matches and almost seven weeks, the IPL Final takes place on Sunday and Mumbai Indians have home advantage when they take on the Chennai Super Kings. Mumbai are slight favourites in what has the making of a thriller. Venue and conditions: The DY Patil stadium has a toss bias, in total five matches played there so far four have been won by the side batting first. It is clear the surface wears as a match progresses, making it difficult for batsmen to hit through the line of the ball with confidence. In the first innings, the average run rate is 8.23. In the second it is just 6.9. Trivia: The BCCI's top brass will refuse to attend the final to distance themselves from Lalit Modi, IPL's under-investigation commissioner. Suresh Raina, with 1318 runs to his name, has overtaken Adam Gilchrist as the leading scorer in all IPL matches. Tendulkar is fifth with 1122 runs. He also holds record for most catches, 26, for a non-wicketkeeper. Team news: Mumbai Indians: Mumbai must decide whether they want to gamble for a second time. The decision to pair Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando, instead of one from Dwayne Bravo or Ryan McLaren against Bangalore in the semi-final, was a strange one. Of course, it paid off but in terms of balance it makes little sense. Bravo or McLaren bowl more than useful overs and offer vital runs. Five stitches in Sachin Tendulkars right hand make the Mumbai Indians captain and star performer a doubt for the final. It would be a real blow were Sachin to miss out after his performances with the bat and as skipper guided Mumbai to the final via a largely trouble free passage. They won 10 of 14 games to make the semi finals where they disposed of the Royal Challengers in a … [Read more...]