Is IPL final the next big thing after ICC World Cup final?

The Indian Premier League is the most popular Twenty20 league in the world, having held 13 successful editions so far. Mumbai Indians are the record four-time defending champions, while the tournament has also been held outside of India on three occasions to date.

For 13 years, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has never deprived its fans of ruthless cricketing actions. Meanwhile, the ongoing edition, of 2020, has reached its final stage, as defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) would take on Delhi Capitals (DC) in the final, in Dubai, on Tuesday.

It is no secret that the tournament is the most fan-popular Twenty20 (T20) league in the world. While some even consider it the next big thing after the ICC World Cup, MI’s vice-captain Kieron Pollard somewhat agreed with it.

“The name of the game is pressure, in a final. Everyone takes that pressure. You want to win and not commit a mistake, but at the end of the day, you have to try to take the finals as a normal game. Just go out there, enjoy yourself and the atmosphere,” Pollard was quoted as saying in a video posted by MI on Twitter.

“Obviously, no crowds in this final, but enjoy the magnitude of it. It’s is an IPL final, it’s the biggest thing after the World Cup final,” added Pollard.

While MI find themselves in similar territory, in the final, unlike DC, who are playing the final for the first time, the former’s head coach Mahela Jayawardene feels that there is no room for being complacent. “It’s another game of cricket, we are not thinking too far ahead, as long as we go through the processes and execute our skills, it’s a contest between bat and ball, runs and wickets, so try and enjoy this contest,” he said in the video.

“I just want the guys to go out there and enjoy the atmosphere. There are quite a few guys in our team who have been there and done that before, so they know what they need to do,” concluded Jayawardene.

The rivalry: MI and DC share an exciting rivalry. Both have met on 27 occasions, with MI winning 15 and DC winning 12. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), they have played against each other in four instances, with MI winning three and DC winning just once. Thus, MI definitely have the upper hand, as of now.

Prediction: MI have the utmost experience of playing in the final. Rohit, who has featured in five title-winning finals, is the best man to know what the situation demands and would be able to utilise his resources correctly. As for DC, they would be in an unknown territory, along with skipper Shreyas Iyer. However, they are known to be unpredictable of late. Although the final demands experience and ability more than luck and unpredictability, it won’t be utterly surprising of DC manage to sneak past this, given the performance they have displayed throughout the season.