IPL: 10 best finals in the history of tournament
In the last 15 years of the marquee T20 tournament, MI and CSK have played the most number of finals.
8. Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK), 2013
MI have always been known for their aggressive brand of cricket. From 2010 to 2012, they qualified for playoffs consistently, along with their arch-rivals CSK. In 2013, the same happened as MI reached the playoffs again to play the first Qualifier match against Dhoni and his men.
Under their young skipper Rohit Sharma, Mumbai faltered in the high-voltage game, losing to the opponents by 48 runs. The comprehensive defeat gave MI critics a chance to call Sharma and his boys chokers due to their back-to-back failures in the Playoff round. However, the team hit back at their critics, winning the second Qualifier match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) by four wickets.
Against CSK in the final, Mumbai won the toss and elected to bat first. On the grassy Kolkata pitch, CSK pacers demolished MI’s top order, but Ambati Rayudu’s steady 37 runs (36 deliveries) and Kieron Pollard’s 60 runs (32 balls) helped Mumbai to rack up 148/9. Defending the low total, MI bowlers’ came hard on the CSK batting unit. The match saw incredible coordination of MI bowlers to vanquish the rivals by 23 runs in the contest and clinch their maiden title.
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