Mohammed Shami Or Deepak Chahar? Who Will Make More Impact in the IPL Final


image-li7clrvxMohammed Shami is the leading wicket-taker of IPL 2023 (AP Photo)

The IPL 2023 Final is here! The defending champions, Gujarat Titans (GT) have managed to reach their second consecutive final and they are up against the most consistent team in the IPL history - the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). They are the four-time IPL champions and have entered the grand finale of the IPL for the record 10th time. So, both teams will be silently confident of their chances but a lot will depend on which team draws first blood in a high-pressure environment of the final.

So, the responsibility of building early pressure and rocking the opposition will be on the new-ball bowlers from both sides and surely Mohammed Shami for GT and Deepak Chahar for CSK are the key men for that job. We all know how much of a difference Powerplay wickets make to the final result of the game, so all eyes will be on Mohammed Shami and Deepak Chahar in this grand finale.

Mohammed Shami in IPL 2023 

Mohammed Shami will go into the final of IPL 2023 as the leading wicket taker of the season with 28 wickets. The 17 of those wickets have come in the Powerplay which is the highest wickets in the Powerplay by any bowler in the history of the IPL.

Shami has also bowled most dot balls in the Powerplay and most maidens too. It is this performance of Shami that has given GT edge in many games and has put the opposition under pressure. 

Shami has taken four wickets against CSK in this season in two games but the interesting thing is that he has got only one wicket in the Powerplay against CSK. It came in the first game of the season when he knocked over Conway in the third over. However, he went wicketless in the Powerplay in Qualifier 1 and that made a huge difference to the result of that game as CSK opening pair produced a partnership of 87 runs.

Deepak Chahar in IPL 2023 

Deepak Chahar missed the middle phase of IPL 2023 after playing first few games due to an injury. However, he has stormed back into the form after his comeback and has picked 12 wickets in his last five games. In the Qualifier 1 against GT, he got two wickets and got the wicket of Wriddhiman Saha in the Powerplay. He also got the big wicket of the Shubman Gill in the middle overs and surely will be high on confidence.

Chahar has been one of the best Powerplay bowlers in the history of the IPL and has over 50 wickets in the Powerplay. So, it makes him CSK's key weapon in this big final against GT.

Shami vs Chahar in the IPL Final 2023

So, let's now see who can be more effective in the final of IPL 2023. 

 Mohammed Shami vs CSK Top-3

The top-3 batters for CSK are Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ajinkya Rahane. All three of them have been in good touch this season and most importantly, all of them have good technique and play swing bowling well. Also, they can play waiting game if required against Shami, so there is a high possibility that CSK top-3 will tackle Shami's threat in this game. Shami bowls better to the left-handers too and Conway could be his most probable wicket if he does get a wicket in the Powerplay in this IPL final.

Deepak Chahar vs GT Top-3

Deepak Chahar will be up against Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill and most probably Sai Sudharsan at number 3. Gill has been in tremendous form and his class is unmatched but Saha could be a probable wicket candidate for Chahar along with Sai Sudharsan. 

Saha is a good player but he has a defined role of going after the bowlers in the Powerplay that will give Chahar more opportunity to get the better of him. Gill is a complete batter but there is a slight weakness against the swinging delivery and if Chahar can get rid of Gill in the first few overs, it will be a huge setback for GT. The defending champions also do not have a stable number 3 batter which can be an advantage for Deepak Chahar and CSK.

Final Verdict

So, looking at the composition of the top-3 batters of both the teams and strengths and weaknesses of those batters, Deepak Chahar is likely to make more impact in the IPL 2023 final.