IPL 2019 final, MI vs CSK as it happened: Record 4th title for MI as Malinga lands knockout blow

12.40 am: That’s all from us for the night. A great tournament comes to an end with a great, if error-strewn, final. This one will be remembered for a long time. Hope you enjoyed our coverage.

Next stop, THE WORLD CUP!

12.35 am: The winning captain for a record fourth time, Rohit Sharma:

“Throughout the season we played good cricket. That’s why we finished top. We broke the tournament into half, focussed on the first half and then needed to take it one game at a time. The entire squad play a part. Our bowling in this tournament has been excellent. At different stages, the bowlers brought us back into the game, put their hand up and took responsibility. That’s why we got the rewards. After going for those many runs in his third over, Malinga... that’s what champions do. I wanted to back somebody who has done it in that situation. I am learning every game [as a captain], every tournament. The captain is just a representative of the team.”

12.32 am: Captain of CSK will pick up a check for Rs 12.5 crore. Here’s what MS Dhoni had to say:

“I don’t think it was one of those years where we played very good cricket. Middle order batting somehow did not click. Today was a game we should have done better. It was funny that we kept passing the trophy between the two teams and in the end Mumbai won because they made fewer errors. Bowlers did very well, even today it was more than a 150 wicket. They kept performing. Batting, somebody kept chipping in. To be consistent and come back next year, we really need to think hard. Too early to talk about plans next year and now is not the time. After this there is a World Cup, that’s the first and foremost thing. Hopefully yes [see him again next year]]”

12.27 am: Andre Russell is the player of the tournament. A deserving MVP for DreRuss who missed a place in the playoffs unfortunately.

Imran Tahir, who became the oldest player to feature in an IPL final at 40: “Really grateful to Chennai for trusting me at this age. Really pleased to see all this happening at this stage of my career. Have put in a lot of hard work. Sad that we didn’t win, but MI played well and deserved to win.”

12.24 am: The Purple Cap changed hands in the very final match of the match as Imran Tahir went past Rabada’s tally with his 26 wickets.

12.23 am: A loud cheer goes around the ground as David Warner is announced as the Orange Cap winner of the season with 692 runs in just 12 matches. What a tournament he had!

12.22 am: Gamechanger of the season award goes to young Rahul Chahar. What a season for him.

12.20 am: Super striker of the tournament and owner of a SUV is Andre Russell.

12.19 am: Catch of the tournament is Kieron Pollard’s stunning effort to dismiss Suresh Raina at the Wankhede.

12.17 am: Emerging player of the tournament: Shubman Gill. A star in the making.

12.14 am: YES, JASPRIT BUMRAH IS MAN OF THE MATCH! Great decision by the adjudicators.

“Very happy. Always trying to be calm at the end. Surprisingly, I was not panicking at all. Very happy to contribute towards the team’s success. I don’t think about extra pressure, you are much more clear and I try to back myself in any situation”

12.13 am: Spare a though for Shane Watson. He scored a match-winning ton in last year’s final. And he scored a 59-ball 80 to almost take his team over the line tonight. Sensational performances from the Aussie at the big stage.

12.11: Spare a thought for Baby Samaira, who’s awake at midnight for her father. (Kidding, kidding)

12.10 am: And finally the presentation ceremony. This is going to go on for a while.

12.03 am: We are still waiting for the post-match presentation. Here’s a personal observation about Bumrah as we wait:

First, Chahar puts down a sitter off Watson that would have won MI the game pretty much then and there, all Bumrah does is smile. And after the QdK parry for four off the 19th over last ball, Bumrah went to the ‘keeper and asked him what happened. Tapped him on the shoulder when he said it swerved. What a remarkable character! Got to love the guy.

11.59 pm: And don’t forget Malinga’s *OTHER* contribution to this win.

11.58 pm: When the dust settles, you will realise that as incredible as Chennai Super Kings’ record is in reaching the playoffs, the *conversion rate of 3 titles from 8 finals is not ideal.

11.51 pm: Two legends speak...

Jayawardene: “Great decisions by Rohit to go back to experienced bowlers. This is why we play the game, for moments like this.”

Tendulkar: “Dhoni’s wicket was the game-changer. A terrific team performance. We’ve got a terrific team, with experience and youngsters. I think Rahul Chahar stands out. He bowled a quality spell tonight. Even Hardik Pandya’s batting was special for us this season. And Bumrah, every time he bowled he delivered. Came after Malinga and Kruna’s expensive overs, but kept it tight and levelled things for us”

11.45 pm: More MI reactions...

Ishan Kishan: “Mumbai Indians is known to make comebacks. We spoke about doing the same tonight.”

Suryakumar Yadav: “The processes and the routines we follow are the most important in terms of the success we’ve had.”

Mitchell McClenaghan: “Just so proud of the entire squad. Right from the support staff to the players. This is incredible. It was a great final against a special opposition.”

11.43 pm: The reactions are pouring in...

11.40pm:

Bumrah: “We tried to stay as calm as possible. Not create panic within the team.”

Malinga: “I knew at the last ball that a wicket would win us the game, so I went for it.”

Hardik: I have lost a couple of kgs today. Lot of people said we won 3-0 before this and CSK would win now. But we believed. I had a Mumbai Indians wallpaper on phone even before I played IPL and now have won two titles in three years. Want to win the World Cup now and tick off that box as well.

11.36 pm: You could not have asked for a better IPL final. I am going to stick my neck out and say this is the best IPL final of all time just for the sheer number of twists and turns. That last ball was a slower ball from Malinga, a small correction. WHAT BRILLIANCE!

MUMBAI INDIANS ARE FOUR-TIME CHAMPIONS! Malinga goes to his strength. The man who bowls yorkers for fun at his best, bowls one more that traps Thakur in front. No reviews available for CSK too but that looked plumb.

WHAT A MATCH!

19.6: MALINGA OVER THE WICKET. CROWD ROARS. THAKUR IS OUT LBW! MUMBAI INDIANS HAVE WON BY ONE RUN!

11.31pm: LAST BALL: There is a break in play, of course. Thakur on strike, Malinga with the ball. PRAYERS EVERYWHERE!

19.5: TWO RUNS! FULL TOSS FROM MALINGA! Thakur puts this one in the gap behind square leg and they run two. TWO RUNS NEEDED OFF ONE BALL!

11.29 pm: Shardul Thakur on strike! Oh this is some finish. Imagine him hitting the winning runs.

19.4: WATSON RUN OUT! OH DEAR! SHANE WATSON GONE! What a match. Watson is out for 80 off 59 balls. He hit the ball past behind point and thought there was a two but he has been struggling between the wickets. Krunal’s throw is good enough for a run-out. CSK need 4 off 2 balls and Jadeja is off strike.

19.3: Around the wicket. Malinga goes full, Watson hits it wide of long on and it goes for a double. CSK need 5 off 3 balls.

19.2: Malinga to Jadeja, a fumble by the bowler and CSK sneak in a single. 7 needed off 4 balls.

19.1: Malinga to Watson, it’s a single. 8 off 5 needed.

Chennai Super Kings: 141/5 after 19 overs - 9 needed from last over

BYES! OH DEAR! Quniton de Kock of all people. Jadeja misses an edge off the last ball of Bumrah but the ball raises at QdK and it is parried by the keeper for four byes. MASSIVE MOMENT!

18.2: WICKET! Bravo gone. Bumrah, meanwhile, continues to do his thing.Runs in hard, bowls a superb delivery to Bravo and gets him caught behind. CSK 133/5 after 18.2 overs

Chennai Super Kings: 132/4 after 18 overs - target 150 (Need 18 off 12 balls)

MASSIVE OVER FOR CSK! WATSON ON THE CHARGE, HAT-TRICK OF SIXES! Krunal Pandya goes for plenty.

Full outside off, square driven over cover. Full on stumps, smashes one down the ground. Then one over midwicket, way back into the stands! WHAT AN OVER. GAME SWINGS AGAIN! Watson moves to 75 off 55 balls and has put CSK on the brink. What a big-match player.

18th over: Big call, Krunal Pandya gets the ball.

Chennai Super Kings: 112/4 after 17 overs - target 150 (Need 38 off 18 balls)

DROPPED! WHAT IS GOING ON! Rahul Chahar once again puts down a simple chance at deep square leg. Jasprit Bumrah, though. What a run-out. Chahar puts down a sitter that would have won MI the game pretty much and all the Indian pacer does is smile. Great attitude to the game.

Meanwhile, Watson is injured and he is struggling between the wickets.

Chennai Super Kings: 108/4 after 16 overs - target 150 (Need 42 off 24 balls)

WHAT AN OVER! FIFTY FOR WATSON! Right, Watson reminds us all that there is a match actually happening. Lasith Malinga bowls a horror over that starts with a six by Dwayne Bravo. Watson then hits a hat-trick of boundaries to make this a massive over. All three boundaries on the offside as Malinga misses his yorkers repeatedly.

Watson batting on 55* and Bumrah has come back for his third. Massive over this.

Chennai Super Kings: 88/4 after 15 overs - target 150 (Need 62 off 30 balls)

In all the excitement of the Dhoni incident, we forgot to tell you about the dropped caught and bowled chance for Watson in Chahar’s last over. Meanwhile, McClenaghan bowls another tight over after an animated strategic timeout with the MI think-tank. Bravo is struggling. Watson keeps finding the fielders. CSK are tottering at the moment.

Chennai Super Kings: 85/4 after 14 overs - target 150

Another over has come and gone and all everyone can talk about it at the moment is the Dhoni runout.

Meanwhile, Rahul Chahar, take a bow. The leg-spinner finishes with figures of 1/14 from his 4 overs. Chennai need 65 off 36. MI are well and truly on top now.

Chennai Super Kings: 82/4 after 13 overs - target 150: MS DHONI RUN OUT! SCENES!

WOW. Mllimeters. LITERALLY ONE FRAME TO DECIDE! AND NIGEL LLONG HAS PRODUCED THE DREAM-11 GAME-CHANGING MOMENT! Brave call to give Dhoni out (and one must say, the right call). It was as dramatic as it could. An overthrow from Malinga and Dhoni wants to sneak another run. Ishan Kishan has produced a stunning direct hit. And he is run out. Wow. No words.

Chennai Super Kings: 79/3 after 12 overs - target 150: (Watson 40, Dhoni 1)

A superb over from Rahul Chahar is spoiled by a poor ball on Watson’s pads and poor fielding from Bumrah at short-fine. Just when you were praising MI’s efforts in the past few overs, another moment of indiscipline. Watson gets a four.

Hardik Pandya is into the attack.

Chennai Super Kings: 73/3 after 11 overs - target 150: RAYUDU GONE!

BUMRAH, TAKE A BOW! Ripper from the Indian pacer and Rayudu walks back. Very similar to the Raina non-dismissal. The pacer bowls a sharp bouncer and the right-hander edges it to de Kock. This time Gould’s decision will stay.

Mumbai Indians are right back in the contest as Dhoni walks out to loud cheers.

This match is on a knife’s edge now. Just one-run from Bumrah’s second over and a wicket! What a bowler.

Chennai Super Kings: 72/2 after 10 overs - target 150: RAINA GONE!

CSK vice-captain’s misery ends as Rahul Chahar traps him LBW. After a long chat with Watson, Raina reviews but it’s plumb. CSK lose their review as well.

So Raina got lucky, played a laborious innings and then eventually used the review as well on his way back. After that dropped catch off Hardik, it’s been a horror night for him.

Mumbai are slowly but steadily but fighting back.

Chennai Super Kings: 70/1 after 9 overs - target 150

Shane Watson survives! He attempts a pull off a slower ball but gets a top-edge, the ball goes high up, Malinga circles under it at short-fine but doesn’t even get a hand to it. Not the easiest of catches but that had to be taken, given its Watson especially. MI are not having the best of times in the field.

Chennai Super Kings: 60/1 after 8 overs - target 150

Rahul Chahar joins the attack and gives away just three singles in his first over. Suresh Raina and Shane Watson content in knocking around the leg-spinner.

Chennai Super Kings: 57/1 after 7 overs - target 150 (Watson 24, Raina 5)

DRAMA IN HYDERABAD: Raina survives! He attempts an awkward hook off a McClenaghan bouncer. The ball goes through to the ‘keeper and MI go up in appeal. Ian Gould raises his finger but DRS saves Raina. The umpire seemed miffed at that decision too as everyone heard something in the middle and there seemed to be a deflection, the MI players obviously are but Raina seemed to go for the review straightaway. That’s a bizarre one. Ultra Edge showed no spike.

Chennai Super Kings: 53/1 after 6 overs - target 150 (Watson 23, Raina 3)

A superb powerplay for Chennai and it’s a big over for Watson and CSK! There he is, the man who loves the big stage. A streaky four past point but there is nothing streaky with the six he hit after that. Slower ball from Malinga, picked it up early and slog swept it over fine leg! Then there is another clever dab behind point for a four. Du Plessis’ cameo and Watson’s late surge have made this the perfect start for CSK.

9.54 pm: Malinga to bowl the final over of the powerplay

Chennai Super Kings: 38/1 after 5 overs - target 150 (Watson 9, Raina 3)

Bumrah into the attack and he tests Raina right away with a bouncer. Top delivery from the Indian pacer and an even better take from Qdk. MI have remembered Raina’s 2013 dismissal and targetting him on the leg side with a leg slip. He gets one shot away for a couple.

Chennai Super Kings: 33/1 after 4 overs - target 150: EVENTFUL OVER!

DOT-FOUR-SIX-FOUR-DOT-WICKET! Faf du Plessis was on fire but Krunal Pandya fights back! Starts the over with a straight four that almost knocks Watson out. Off the next two balls, he gives himself room down the leg side and smacks one over long on for six. Same routine next ball, behind point for four. But then he gets carried away, goes for the big shot again but Krunal deceives him with pace and de Kock stumps his captain. An eventful over and the MI players are now pumped.

Remember, CSK do not have the best of batting lineups.

Chennai Super Kings: 19/0 after 3 overs - target 150 (du Plessis 12, Watson 7)

Malinga, who has taken the most wickets against CSK for any bowler in the IPL, comes on to bowl the third over. Bowls three dot balls against Watson and makes the Aussie take a risky single. A direct hit and he would have been gone. Another risky single off the final ball and the overthrow goes for four. A five for du Plessis!

Chennai Super Kings: 12/0 after 2 overs - target 150 (du Plessis 6, Watson 6)

CHANCE FOR KRUNAL! The ball stops on du Plessis and the backfoot punch just evades Pandya. Watson then smacks one wide of cover for four. His first of the night. But for that bad ball, a good over from Krunal Pandya.

Chennai Super Kings: 7/0 after 1 over (du Plessis 5, Watson 2)

After a couple of dot balls to start off, McClenaghan bowls one full and wide, du Plessis plays an uppish drive for the first boundary of the chase. Watson pulls a short ball but there is a fielder waiting in the deep for that. The over finishes with a double. That might be one of the best first overs this season for CSK.

CSK’s run-chase about to begin: So, CSK need 150 to win a fourth IPL title. The pitch is by no means the easiest for stroke-play but MI have surely got a below par score. Who has the edge at the halfway stage?

Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson, two big-match players are out in the middle, McClenaghan will start. The powerplay could decide the final.

Premier League update: Manchester City are champions! City become the first team since Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United to win back-to-back league titles. Pep Guardiola’s men now have a record 14 consecutive wins after thrashing Brighton 4-1. Runners-up Liverpool defeated Wolves 2-0

Innings break: Mumbai Indians 149/8, target for CSK 150

A collective bowling effort from CSK after the night started so well for Mumbai Indians with the openers clearing the boundary line with ease. A change of ends for the CSK pacers resulted in both openers being dismissed and from there MS Dhoni’s plans started to kick in. It was a superb fightback from the defending champions and MI would think this is an under-par score. Join us soon for the run-chase.

End of Mumbai Indians innings: 149/8 after 20 overs (Pollard 41* off 25 balls)

BACK-TO-BACK BOUNDARIES FOR KP! The birthday boy finishes with a flourish, two brutal hits either side of Ambati Rayudu at deep extra cover. He had no chance to save either. Good finish, another good cameo from Pollard in a CSKvMI final but at this stage, CSK would be the happier side you would think.

19.4: WICKET! McClenaghan is run out going for a double. But Pollard on strike. MI 141/8 after 19.4 overs.

BIZARRE MOMENT: After two non-wide calls (outside off but the batsman was moving) from umpire Menon that did not please Pollard, the batsman takes stance at the wide line and then moves away from the pitch. Dead ball but the umpires not happy with Pollard there. Mutual, you would think. Three dot balls though, with MI 140/7 after 19.3 overs.

CORRECTION: It’s Dwayne Bravo to bowl the last over. And the scores have been updated in the previous updates as well.

Right, here we go. MI 140/7 after 19.

Mumbai Indians: 140/7 after 19 overs - what an over from Deepak!

A tremendous 19th over (remember he went for 20 in one over in the powerplay!). Just four runs and two wickets and CSK have once again pegged Mumbai back.

Mumbai Indians: 140/7 after 18.4 overs - Deepak wins the Chahar vs Chahar battle!

MI are in trouble. Pollard has been kept out of strike and CSK have taken two wickets. Deepak’s cousin Rahul Chahar trying to clear the field and finds du Plessis at mid-off. Third wicket for Deepak!

Mumbai Indians: 140/6 after 18.2 overs - Hardik gone! Big wicket!

WICKET FOR CSK! Deepak Chahar for 19th and he goes for a four off the first ball as the cameras pan to Raina. Hardik muscled a short ball down to wide long on for a four. Picked the bouncer very well. But Chahar has the last laugh. Bowls a terrific yorker and Hardik uses DRS. It’s all red. Superb execution from Chahar! Raina can heave a sigh of relief.

Mumbai Indians: 136/5 after 18 overs (Pollard 32, Hardik 12)

Thakur for 18th. Interesting call from Dhoni. Starts off the over well and should have had a wicket off the second ball! SURESH RAINA DROPS AN ABSOLUTE SITTER. Hardik Pandya survives. Next ball, Thakur misses his length and goes for the slot and Pollard sends that soaring into the stands.

And what does Hardik do when he gets back on strike, plays a helicopter shot for SIX! Look away, Raina. That’s unfair on Thakur who has gone for 2/37 in his 4 overs. A good night, ruined somewhat by poor catching.

Mumbai Indians: 120/5 after 17 overs (Pollard 24, Hardik 4)

What was turning into another top over from Tahir, as he was mixing up the pace brilliantly, goes for runs eventually. The fifth ball is a short one and a gift to Pollard, the birthday boy pulls it into the stands for six. The last ball is short too but quicker, so goes to the fielder in the deep in front of square.

Not a bad over in the end stages for CSK, it must be said. Hardik, meanwhile, has not quite got going yet.

Mumbai Indians: 110/5 after 16 overs

Jadeja to Pollard and Hardik — possibly the reason the left-arm spinner was held back, to take the ball away from the two big-hitters. Pollard goes for one big shot over cover-point and doesn’t connect but Chahar cannot take a low catch running forward and the ball goes for four. Good effort.

Will CSK continue with spin? Yes, Tahir will bowl his third.

Mumbai Indians: 102/5 after 15 overs

Right, this is the phase of the match MI took the game away from CSK in the first meeting of this season. Pollard and Hardik. What have CSK got?

Meanwhile, an IPL record for Tahir.

Mumbai Indians: 102/5 after 15 overs - Imran Tahir is the leading wicket-taker in IPL 2019!

Ishan Kishan is dismissed playing a wild slog. Looked like the wrong ‘un from Tahir? The sweep is nowhere near the middle of the bat and ends up ballooning up to Raina at cover. Tahir has now taken 26 wickets this season, the 40-year-old will finish with the Purple Cap.

Pollard hit one massive six earlier in the over off a full toss, it went a long way. And despite the six, it’s just 8 runs from that over and a wicket off it.

Mumbai Indians: 94/4 after 14 overs - (Ishan 23, Pollard 2)

Ravindra Jadeja into the attack finally and you know what that means... live bloggers’ around the world cracking the knuckles and getting down to work. Just four runs from that over. Interesting, that familiar fielding position against Pollard — a very straight long on.

Mumbai Indians: 90/4 after 13 overs - Krunal Pandya is gone!

ANOTHER BOWLING CHANGE, ANOTHER WICKET! Brings back Shardul Thakur into the attack and he repays his captain’s faith with a bouncer that hurries Krunal Pandya into a pull. IF the ball was good, the catch was even better as he ran all the way to short fine leg to juggle and take a stunning running catch.

Kieron Pollard is the new man in and not Hardik, interesting.

Mumbai Indians: 85/3 after 12 overs - Tahir removes Surya!

And the SA spinner is off on his merry way! He now has the Purple Cap, joint top of the list with Rababa on 25 wickets . No footwork from Surya and he is beaten by the shortish length of Tahir. Clean bowled.

Two left-handers in the middle now with Tahir and Jadeja expected to bowl a few overs now. A good over for CSK just when MI were starting to change gears.

Mumbai Indians: 80/2 after 11 overs (Kishan 20, Surya 13)

Harbhajan Singh goes for a couple of boundaries in his final over of this season - 0/27 in his four overs. Surya goes for his trademark lofted flick and Jadeja almost pulled off a stunning catch at deep midwicket. Ishan then uses his wrist to hit a boundary wide of long on.

We finally see Imran Tahir into the attack.

Mumbai Indians: 70/2 after 10 overs (Kishan 15, Surya 8)

Dwayne Bravo starts after the timeout and looks like Ishan has been given the go ahead to go for the shots. First ball of the over, full from Bravo and send over mid-on. Fifth ball of the over, a slow yorker gone wrong and Ishan plays a sweep shot for anther boundary. MI are looking to change gears clearly.

Interesting phase of the game coming up. CSK have the best middle overs Econ. Rate in this IPL.

Mumbai Indians: 58/2 after 9 overs (Kishan 5, Surya 7)

Harbhajan Singh continues and its another over with just singles. The wily offspinner is slowing it up nicely and this is another top spell from him this season.

Time for a timeout. What will the word from MI dugout be? How much time will Surya and Ishan get to keep things steady?

For Premier League fans: In the meanwhile, after 83 seconds of hope for Liverpool fans, City are back in front in their game after trailing 1-0. The title is heading to Manchester.

Mumbai Indians: 53/2 after 8 overs (Kishan 3, Surya 5)

Dwayne Bravo starts off with a tight over, conceding just three runs. There is a tackiness to this pitch as well as Surya gets a couple of leading edges.

Mumbai Indians: 50/2 after 7 overs (Kishan 2, Surya 3)

It’s consolidation time for Mumbai as Surya and Ishan take no risks against Harbhajan. Five singles in the 7th over. 50 comes up for MI.

Meanwhile another IPL record for MSD.

Mumbai Indians: 45/2 after 6 overs (Kishan 0, Surya 0)

Wicket maiden to end the Powerplay after going for 20 runs in his previous over! Take a bow, Deepak Chahar! What a fightback. Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan are at the crease for MI. Who is ahead at this point?

Mumbai Indians: 45/2 after 5.2 overs - Rohit is dismissed too!

WHAT A TURNAROUND! Change of ends for Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar and both of them take a wicket each. How does MS Dhoni do this? Knuckle ball from Chahar and Rohit edges one to Dhoni who takes a superb low catch.

CSK have roaring back with two wickets on the same score.

Mumbai Indians: 45/1 after 4.5 overs - de Kock’s cameo comes to an end!

SIX AND OUT! Shardul strikes for CSK just when it looked like QdK is going to run away with this innings. After striking a superb six over midwicket that made even made Tendulkar look on in amazement, de Kock goes for another pull shot but this time he is a bit late to the shot. Dhoni takes the catch and Shardul gives QdK a sendoff. CSK needed that!

Mumbai Indians: 37/0 after 4 overs (Rohit 14, de Kock 22)

A good first over from Harbhajan Singh is spoiled by a boundary off the final ball as Rohit Sharma hits the first four of the final. A sweep shot, timed and placed well.

Thakur gets a change of ends after the expensive over of Chahar.

Mumbai Indians: 30/0 after 3 overs (Rohit 9, de Kock 20)

BIG OVER FOR MI: Quniton de Kock on the charge! Taking the attack to Deepak Chahar! First ball, walks down the pitch and sends one soaring over square leg. And then the next one is a bit streaky, an outside edge carries all the over third man. But nothing streaky about the third six of the over, gets the shot he wanted to play earlier right. An off-drive carries all the way.

The first four boundaries of this final are all SIXES!

Mumbai Indians: 10/0 after 2 overs (Rohit 9, de Kock 1)

Shardul Thakur bowls the 2nd over (That’s the only over he bowled in the Qualifer 2). Starts off decently against Rohit Sharma. And after 2 runs from the first four balls, the Hitman plays his trademark front-foot pull shot that goes for the first SIX of the night. Overall, though a decent over from a guy who many thought might not be in the playing XI for this final.

Mumbai Indians: 2/0 after 1 over (Rohit 1, de Kock 1)

Deepak Chahar starts off with a couple of short-of-length deliveries — not trying to go full to extract swing, interestingly. The seamer then works the angle away from QdK and almost has him playing on to the stumps. The SA opener not quite getting the timing right. Just two singles off the first two balls and four dot balls after that! Top start from Chahar.

7.29 pm: Players make their way out to the middle. A huddle for CSK after the walk the red carpet flanked by fireworks. Nitin Menon and Ian Gould are the two umpires. Rohit and QdK are the MI openers, as expected.

HERE. WE. GO!

7.27 pm: An interesting fact, if CSK win the title tonight. Karn Sharma will have been on the winning side in IPL for FOUR STRAIGHT SEASONS.

7.23 pm: We’re not far away from the first ball! MI have defeated CSK three times this season, but MS Dhoni and his men can’t be ruled out on the biggest stage.

7.17 pm: If you were wondering why Rohit opted to bat first, all 3 of MI’s titles have come batting first.

7.06 pm: Team news — only one MI change with McClenaghan replacing Jayant Yadav considering the conditions. No changes for CSK and not many would be surprised with that.

Chennai Super Kings: Faf du Plessis, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (w/c), Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Imran Tahir

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock (w), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Rahul Chahar, Mitchell McClenaghan, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga.

7.02 pm:

TOSS NEWS: Rohit Sharma tosses the coin, and it falls in favour of Rohit Sharma! #MI have decided to bat first. Interesting call right away! MS Dhoni wanted to bowl first. The toss was just a formality!

6.56 pm: VVS Laxman’s pitch report — “Looks beautiful for batting, a belter. With the grass covering and a rock-hard base, batsmen can trust the pace and play through the line. Boundary is big, so there are 2s, 3s available.”

Interesting, David Warner did enjoy batting on this track and there was that one massive score against RCB at the venue. But otherwise it’s not been a belter, the Hyderabad pitch. Slater, however, thinks there might be tennis ball bounce. Differing thoughts there. We’ll soon know what the captains think.

6.50 pm: Do you remember this Helicopter shot from Hardik Pandya when CSK visited the Wankhede? Without a doubt, one of the shots of the tournament.

Watch it here:

6.46 pm: Mumbai have now reached the final on five occasions and won the title three times:

2010: MI lost to CSK by 22 runs
2013: MI beat CSK by 23 runs
2015: MI beat CSK by 41 runs
2017: MI beat Rising Pune Supergiant by 1 run
2019: TBD

6.39 pm:

CSK have reached the final eight times in the ten seasons that they have played, more than any other franchise.

2008: CSK lost to Rajasthan Royals by 3 wickets
2010: CSK beat MI by 22 runs
2011: CSK beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 58 runs
2012: CSK lost to Kolkata Knight Riders by 5 wickets
2013: CSK lost to MI by 23 runs
2015: CSK lost to MI by 41 runs
2018: CSK beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 8 wickets
2019: TBD

6.32 pm: ROAD TO FINAL

Mumbai Indians, contrary to their usual style, have been in cruise control mode for most of the season and topped the table, won the first Qualifier for a straightforward journey into the final.

For Chennai Super Kings, it’s been a season of two halves. A superb start, a faltering finish and then doing what needed to be done in the knockout game against Delhi.

Here’s the teams’ road to final - READ.

6.25 pm: Anyone who will be nervous in either of the two dugouts? In the broadcaster’s studio, both R Ashwin and Anil Kumble reckon none of the players will be. Kumble reckons the Umpires will be more nervous, if anything. Ashwin says the Yellow Army rarely feel the nerves, thanks to the wise, experienced heads in the dugout.

6.23 pm:

IPL 2010 final: CSK defeated MI
IPL 2013 final: MI defeated CSK
IPL 2015 final: MI defeated CSK
IPL 2019 final: ?????

Look back at the previous finals here.

6.16 pm:

Head-to-head

Mumbai Indians are the only team in the IPL with a positive win-loss record against the Chennai Super Kings.

Overall: 27 matches, Mumbai Indians – 16 wins, Chennai Super Kings – 11 wins.

Since 2015: 8 matches, Mumbai Indians – 6 wins, Chennai Super Kings – 2 wins.

In knockouts/playoffs: 8 matches, Mumbai Indians – 4, Chennai Super Kings – 4.

6.05 pm: After 59 matches that saw some thrilling finishes, it’s time for the Battle Royale to close out the 12th edition of Indian Premier League. Hello all and welcome to our live blog of the IPL final between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings — two three-time champions face off against each other in the summit clash for the fourth time seeking their fourth title.

The clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad will pit the two most successful teams in the history of the T20 tournament against each other.

It can’t be disputed that Mumbai go into the final as the favourites, having beaten Chennai as many as three times earlier in the tournament, including in the Qualifier 1 at Chepauk on Tuesday.

The ‘Dad’s Army’ led by MS Dhoni featured in their second consecutive final after their remarkable success story of 2018. For Mumbai Indians, the sequence of titles in odd years — 2013, 2015, 2017 — was seen as a sign of potential success in 2019 too from the outset and they are now one step away from confirming it.

Join us as we build up to the toss at 1930 IST.