IPL Final 2019, MI vs CSK: BCCI curator gives an insight about the Hyderabad pitch

The pitch for the IPL final between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians could force both the teams to come out of their comfort zones. Both CSK and MI have banked on their spinners in the season so far but the 22 yards for the IPL final at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad might not be the ideal track for the slower bowlers.

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Historically, Hyderabad has been a venue that suits the medium pacers more. The fast bowlers have taken 52 wickets compared to only 27 by the spinners. The record of SRH’s left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed – 12 wickets in 4 matches at this venue – also indicates the nature of the pitch.

The man responsible for preparing the strip for IPL final, BCCI curator YL Chandrasekhar Rao, however, promises a sporting wicket for the title clash between MI and CSK.

“I want to succeed once again and we are working on the wicket and also the ground to meet the best of the standards. It’s going to be a good wicket. We already have two wickets ready and the third one is being readied,” Rao told TOI ahead of the IPL 2019 final.

Reacting on the eve of the final, Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma said both teams need to assess the conditions quickly.

“It (Hyderabad) is a neutral venue. Both teams have played here so they are very much aware of the conditions. It is not going to be a major factor. Important will be to assess the pitch as quickly as we can, see what the ideal score will be if we bat first,” Rohit said.

In the previous match against CSK in Chepauk, Mumbai brought in Jayant Yadav in place of Mitchell McClenaghan and this move worked like a charm on the spinning track. However, the surface at Hyderabad might tempt MI to bring the Kiwi pacer back.

Venue Insights

Hyderabad has hosted only one IPL final till date that was only a couple of years ago between Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017. In the low-scoring thriller, MI got the better of RPS by just 1 run and went on to lift the IPL title for the third time.

Highest team total: 231/2 by Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2019

Highest individual score: 126 by David Warner for Sunrisers Hyderabad vs KKR, 2017

Best bowling figures: 6/12 by Alzarri Joseph (Mumbai Indians) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2019.