Royal Challengers earn right to play Chennai Super Kings in IPL final

The Royal Challengers Bangalore brushed Mumbai Indians aside in the semi-final, with typical aplomb associated with them when Chris Gayle fires, and will now take on the Chennai Super Kings in the final of the IPL 2011. The game will be played at Chennai’s backyard at the Chepauk and will see them go into it as favourites to retain the trophy they had won in 2010.

To be fair, once Gayle got going, the Mumbai Indians knew that they would never be able to hold a candle to the Bangalore score. It is only an early dismissal of Gayle that evens things up, or at least that is what the tournament this year has shown.

Bangalore will now hope that Gayle can fire for the one last occasion against Chennai Super Kings. At home, the Super Kings reign supreme, having won all their seven games this season. They are 2-1 against Bangalore this season, both wins coming in the absence of a Gayle-show.

Chennai has been the most consistent side in the IPL across the four editions of the IPL and it is no surprise why - they have retained most of their players from across the four seasons of the tournaments and their captain has shown, as he has at the international level as well, remarkable composure in leading out the side.

Without Gayle, the Bangalore have looked clueless, while Chennai have had most of their men performing at the top of the order. Chennai has a better variety in bowling and although the inclusion of Syed Mohammad did help Bangalore, it will be interesting to see how he bowls under pressure.

Chennai should go into the game as favourites, as they have the tenacity to pull things back after a poor start - with either the bat or the ball. This is why, it will be interesting to see how differently they react to what Gayle does at the top of the innings, to some of the other captains in the competition.