When Hardik Pandya leads GT in the final against MS Dhoni’s CSK, he will face a tough challenge despite having a better head-to-head record. Pandya, who led his team to victory last year, aims to successfully defend the title.
Interestingly, Pandya holds an advantage over Captain Cool in terms of his record as a winning player in finals. He has played in five IPL finals so far – four with MI and one with GT between 2015 and 2022 – and emerged victorious on every occasion.
On the other hand, Dhoni has participated in 10 finals to date – nine with CSK and one with RPSG. Out of those, he has won four – all with CSK in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021. Thus, when it comes to win percentage in the final, Pandya outperforms Dhoni.
If GT manages to clinch the victory, they will become the third team to successfully defend the IPL title. CSK achieved this feat in 2011, while MI accomplished it in 2020. On the other hand, if CSK emerges as the winners, they will equal MI’s record of five IPL titles, securing their place at the top.
However, it’s important to note that these records hold little significance once the action begins. Ultimately, only time will reveal which team will emerge triumphant at the end of the game.