The IPL Final is in a current raindelay, so might as well update to how we got here.
1st qualifier:
GT vs. CSK, 23 May, 07:30pm IST (10:00am ET)
CSK went to bat first and put up 172/7, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, an opening batsman. 60(44). With a partnership with Devon Conway's 40(34), they managed a century, but CSK had their work cut out for them. Next highest run getter was all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja ('Jaddu') at 22(16). After an OK innings, GT were set to chase and the Final berth certainly looked to be theirs.
With a captaincy masterclass of MS Dhoni (who seems to have annual retirement rumours), GT managed only 157 (all out). For CSK, Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Ravindra Jadeja, & Matheesha Pathirana all captured 2 wickets each. The most expensive economy rate of these 4 was the latter with 9.25. Truly a job well done from the bowlers & Thala.
On the GT side of the scorecard, Purple Cap candidates Mohammad Shami, Rashid Khan, & Mohit Sharma captured 2 wickets for 7.00 ER, 1 for 9.25, & 2 for 7.75, respectively.
Orange cap candidate (at this point in the season) Shubman Gill for GT batted 42(38) before being caught out from Devon Conway from Deepak Chahar's ball.
CSK won by 15 runs and advanced to the Final.
Eliminator:
LSG vs. MI, 24 May, 07:30pm IST (10:00am ET)
This was a blowout. MI won by 81 runs: 182/8 to 101 (all out). Player of the match was Akash Madhwal, who had a tremendous 5 wicket haul in 3.3 O, allowing only 5 runs for a ridiculous 1.42 economy.
Cameron Green chipped in with 41(23) for MI, and SKY (Suryakumar Yadav) helped himself to 33(20).
MI moved on to play against GT in the 2nd qualifier, while LSG were eliminated.
2nd qualifier:
MI won the toss but chose to chase, with long-time captain Rohit Sharma believing the weather conditions would allow the pitch to help yield more runs as the match went on. However, GT put up a convincing 234, led by the aforementioned Shubman Gill's 129(60). With his masterclass performance, he catapulted himself firmly into Orange Cap (most runs) territory for the season.
Needing to chase 234, MI had a tall task ahead of them. With Mohit Sharma's 5-wicket haul in just 2.2 O allowing only 10 runs, he saw to it that MI were not advancing and MI were limited to 171 (all out).
The Final is set to be a rematch of the 1st qualifier: GT/CSK in Ahmedabad.
The current rain delay means there might be a makeup day tomorrow (29 May, Monday).