In Twenty20 cricket, teams tend to chase after winning the toss. But at times, pitch and conditions also influence a captain's decision. In case of Sunday's final between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings, weather too could play a role. With rain threat looming large, team batting second would have the advantage of knowing exactly how to pace the run-chase. FOLLOW| MI vs CSK, IPL final Live Score Chennai has won the toss in 12 out of 16 matches this edition of the Indian Premier League, bowling first on nine occasions and batting thrice. The M.S. Dhoni-led side has won seven times after winning the toss and three times after being on the wrong side of the coin toss. Chennai has also lost five matches after Dhoni won the toss. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma hasn't quite had a similar run of luck. Mumbai has won only seven tosses in 15 matches — opting to bat twice and bowling in five games. In IPL 2019, Mumbai has won five matches after winning the toss and five after losing the toss. It has lost twice after winning the toss.<doc-sep>Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni at the toss for the IPL final in Hyderabad. (Source: PTI) Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni at the toss for the IPL final in Hyderabad. (Source: PTI) Being “switched on” from the first ball coupled with situational awareness has made Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rohit Sharma the two most successful IPL skippers, reckons the iconic Sachin Tendulkar. While Dhoni’s game awareness is well-documented, Rohit, who has also led the national team as stand-in skipper, has been incredibly successful. He has won all the three IPL finals he has captained till date. “I think they (Rohit and Dhoni) are pretty sharp. MS has been leading for a number of years and Rohit has also been incredibly successful. So the ability to read the game and having that peripheral (situational) awareness makes them special captain,” Tendulkar told ‘Star Sports’ on Sunday. “With MS we have seen his ability to read match situations and even Rohit is proving that (he has that awareness). Both captains are on toes and switched on from ball one,” said the Mumbai Indians’ ‘Icon’. Tendulkar also lauded the young talent that has come through along the years, growing up on the pace and frenzy of T20 cricket. “Everyone is enjoying the skills of the new generation and their ability to clear the field. Amazing talent on display and the younger generation growing on IPL, it’s contagious,” said Tendulkar, who played six seasons of IPL till 2013. Twenty20 is a format where catching the opposition off-guard is more important than just trying to play correct cricket, he said. “It’s about adaptability at the given moment in this format. How could you make the most of the six balls that you face or which you are going to bowl. It’s not always about being correct but catching your opposition off-guard and being a step ahead of opposition as far as planning is concerned,” said the legendary batsman.<doc-sep>The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 league stage is done and over with, and so is the Playoffs’ phase. It is time for IPL Final 12, finally. After a roller-coaster ride amongst the eight teams, Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have made it to the showdown, which will be played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, in Hyderabad on May 12. MI vs CSK, IPL 2019 Final, Key Players: Quinton de Kock, MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah And Other Cricketers to Watch Out for at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Both the teams have won IPL titles thrice in the league’s history. Another IPL trophy win this year will make them a winner for a record number of times, i.e. 4. Who’ll it be – Mumbai Indians or Chennai Super Kings? MI vs CSK Head-to-Head Record: Ahead of IPL 2019 Final Clash, Here Are Match Results of Last 5 Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings Encounters! Given the form that both Mumbai and Chennai are in, it is difficult to predict the winner of IPL 2019. However, if one takes past records, head-to-head records, and other factors into the consideration, it’ll be a bit easy to predict a winner in CSK vs MI 2019 IPL Final match. Let’s take a look. IPL 2019 Final, MI vs CSK: Here’s a Look At Previous Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings Summit Clashes. Match Preview: Mumbai Indians will be brimming high with confidence after they defeated Chennai Super Kings in the Qualifier 1 match, only a few days back. On the other hand, Chennai would be looking forward to carrying from where they left in their quest against Delhi Daredevils, after experiencing an off day (read: troubling loss) against Mumbai. In IPL 2019 (MI vs CSK) The teams have clashed thrice in this IPL season. Mumbai Indians, on all occasions, have won the matches without any hassles. In the first match this season, Mumbai won the match by 38 runs. In the second, the victory margin was bigger at 47 runs. In the third, MI won it even more comfortably, by 6 wickets. In IPL 2019 Overall: Mumbai Indians ended up on the top spot of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 with 18 points in their kitty. After winning 9 matches and losing 5, Mumbai, with a higher Net Run Rate (NRR), was on the first spot of IPL Points Table when the league stage ended. Chennai Super Kings had a stellar first-half season; however, a lack-lustre second half saw them end on the second spot. With the same number of wins and losses as Mumbai, Chennai dropped to the second spot of the Points Table with a lesser NRR. Who will win MI vs CSK IPL 2019 Qualifier 1 match tonight? Chennai Super Kings have lost in all games they have played against Mumbai Indians this season. Speaking about the last five matches, it is Mumbai Indians who have had an upper hand against their opponents with the scoreline reading 4-1. In their head-to-head record, the teams have squared off against each other on 27 occasions. In these matches, Mumbai has won a majority of matches, with the tally reading 16-11 in their favour. Mumbai and Chennai have met on 8 occasions in the Playoffs’, where both the teams have won an equal number of matches, i.e. 4. However, the Chennai Super Kings have featured in the most number of finals than any other team, i.e. 8. One simply cannot count them out the contention just yet. It will be an interesting ‘Game of Throne’ when the titans clash on May 12 in Hyderabad. Taking the current form into consideration, it is Mumbai Indians all the way. However, when factors in all the elements, CSK’s chances aren’t too dim despite losing all the three matches against Mumbai this season. Our prediction: Mumbai Indians – Chennai Super Kings (55% - 45%) The two-month long extravaganza will finally see its deserved end tonight, with two of the most celebrated teams locking horns against each other tonight. Will it be Mumbai or Chennai; it is for time to tell. However, do let us know in the comments section below as to who do you think will emerge as the winner tonight. Stay tuned to LatestLY for all the latest news and updates about MI vs CSK, IPL 2019 Final match. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 12, 2019 11:37 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).<doc-sep>Hyderabad: Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma on Saturday played down the workload management talk ahead of the World Cup, saying the IPL is an ideal tournament to gauge "where you are" in the lead up to a big event. In the media interaction before the IPL final on Sunday, Sharma said he left it to the players — Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah in this case — to decide their workload during the course of the almost two-month-long T20 league. The India vice-captain was seated alongside Mumbai coach Mahela Jayawardene while there was no representation from their opponents — Chennai Super Kings — in the mandatory press conference as they arrived late on Saturday evening. CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming were also supposed to attend the pre-final interaction. "We spoke at the start of the tournament that we will assess each one of them and see where they are at and how they feel about their body as the tournament progresses. It is more of an individual thing than what we decided for them," Sharma said. "Like in Jasprit's case, he is someone who likes to play games to make sure that he is in a good rhythm. We spoke at any given stage, if he feels the need to rest, we were open for it. Our physios have monitored him quite well. There was constant feedback from Jasprit as well. So far there are no issues with either of them — Hardik or Jasprit. It has to come from them and they want to continue playing." If not anything else, the IPL has helped Hardik get back to his best ahead of the World Cup beginning on 30 May. "How their form is the most important thing, they are really doing well. Anyone who plays the IPL and goes to a big tournament (like the World Cup) I feel it keeps them very much in touch with their game. It is a great tournament to hit form. Hardik is one example," Sharma said. "He was injured before the IPL, missed few games as well (for India), now he has done tremendously well for us. You can judge yourself where you are ahead of a big tournament like the World Cup," he added. Talking about the IPL final where Mumbai Indian will be aiming for a fourth title alongside CSK, Sharma said his team is focussed on the job at hand. "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. It will be important to assess the pitch as quickly as we can, see what the ideal score will be if we bat first," he said. Mumbai Indians will surpass CSK in the race for most IPL titles if they win on Sunday. However, Sharma is not reading too much into that statistic. "All those things will take care of themselves if we play good cricket. We need to focus on the day rather than thinking about the past. The focus will be on how we can play better cricket. We are treating it as another match like we have done earlier in the tournament. "It is a special feeling to be playing the final but as I said, the most successful team (tag) doesn't matter for us. Yes every now and then we have spoken to the guys about not being too emotional thinking about the play-offs, we just want to focus on the game and not look too far ahead," he said. Mumbai Indians have beaten CSK thrice this season besides getting the better of them in two finals. Asked if CSK bring the best out of Mumbai Indians, Sharma said: "I wouldn't agree to that. The tournament itself is the biggest challenge, every team is a threat. Rajasthan Royals did not qualify but they beat us twice so we have to be good on that particular day. "There is a lot of hype around the two teams (CSK and MI) and it is because they have been successful in winning the championship, everyone looks forward to the clash. For all the latest news, opinions and analysis from IPL 2019, click here For the full schedule, date, time and venue of all the matches of IPL 12, click here Check out the full points table for IPL 2019, including holders of Orange and Purple Caps<doc-sep>
Mumbai Indians have won the toss and elected to bat in the IPL 2019 final against Chennai Super Kings at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday. "It's a big game. This is what we prefer to do. There can be some initial help for the fast bowlers and then, for the spinners as well. We have played on tacky pitches throughout the season, we don't mind batting first. We have one change. It is an unforced change. We looked into the conditions and brought in pacer Mitchell McClenaghan in place of Jayant Yadav (off-spinner)," said MI skipper Rohit Sharma. Live updates, MI vs CSK IPL 2019 final CSK has an unchanged squad for the final. Skipper M.S. Dhoni said he would have bowled first had he won the toss. "We are a side that puts a lot of effort in fielding, so it should be fine. If the result is in your favour, then it's fine, otherwise they'll say the guys are fatigued," he said. All three previous MI-CSK finals have been won by the team batting first. 2010: CSK won by 22 runs 2013: MI won by 23 runs 2015: MI won by 41 runs On way to the final, CSK has won the toss in 12 out of 16 matches in this season. It bowled first on nine occasions and batted thrice. Dhoni's side has won seven times after winning the toss and thrice after being on the other side. On the other hand, Rohit hasn't quite had a similar run of luck. Mumbai has won only seven tosses in 15 matches — opting to bat twice and bowling in five games.