It’s that time of year again! After a long and at some points grueling IPL home and away season, the finals are finally upon us, kicking off with the Gujarat Titans taking on the Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday night in the 1st Qualifier from midnight.
Check out our full preview and betting tips for the clash below and remember to head to our Cricket Tips page for previews for the remaining IPL Finals as well as coverage in the lead up to a massive few months in Test cricket.
IPL Qualifier 1 Betting Tips
Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings
M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Wednesday 24th May, 12am (AEST)
Gujarat Titans
The Titans finished the home and away season on top of the table with a dominant 10-4 record to earn themselves a spot in the 1st Qualifier. They are one of the newest franchises in the IPL, having only been added to the league at the start of last season. Since their inception, however, they have been near perfect, finishing top of the table as well as winning the title in their first season.
They are led by superstar Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has been a force with the bat this season but has had a limited role with ball, taking only three wickets as he took a back seat to stars in Mohammed Shami and Rashid Khan.
With the bat, it’s been international renowned opener Shubman Gill who has played the leading role, accumulating an impressive 680 runs at 56.7 capped off by a brilliant ton in the final regular season game.
Predicted 12 (including likely impact player substitutes): Wriddiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Vijay Shankar (IP), Dasun Shanaka, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, Yash Dayal (IP)
Chennai Super Kings
If you were to make comparisons for BBL fans in Australia, then there is no doubt the Chennai Super Kings are the Perth Scorchers of the IPL. Over the 16 year IPL history so far, the Super Kings have recorded four titles and have only finished outside of the top three on the table two times.
They are led by Indian superstar M.S. Dhoni, who has been the skipper of the side for the majority of it’s existence.
Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad have combined for over a thousand runs at the top of the CSK batting order this season, while relative unknown Tushar Deshpande has led the way for the bowlers, taking 20 wickets at 23.25.
Predicted 12 (including likely impact player substitutes): Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Shivam Dube (IP), M.S. Dhoni (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana (IP)
Match Prediction
There’s no doubt that the Super Kings lack some star power, particularly without Ben Stokes in the line-up, who had to depart India early to prepare for international duties. However, CSK have never been a team that relies heavily on stars, instead leaning on the cricketing nouse of M.S. Dhoni, who has had every possible T20 scenario thrown at him over his illustrious career and more often than not, comes out on top.
The two sides have not met since all the way back in April in the very first game of the 2023 IPL season. Gujarat came out on top in that clash, chasing down 178 with just four balls to spare. I like the Super Kings here though. They enter the final in solid form, having won three of their final four games of the regular season. Back them to get the job done here in a pick’em.
