IPL 2018, Finals: 3 unnoticed things from the CSK vs SRH game

A two-year suspension and being forced to play the home matches in Pune didn't prevent Chennai Super Kings, led extraordinarily by Mahendra Singh Dhoni from winning their third IPL beating defending champions by eight wickets. Heavily criticised after the auction with many players above 30 years of age, Shane Watson fittingly answered the critics with a scintillating knock of unbeaten 117 runs, after scoring zero off the first ten balls, finishing the chase for his side. Chennai Super Kings also became the first team to beat a side four times in a single season, and Kane Williamson-led Sunrisers Hyderabad couldn't derail the record despite having arguably one of the best bowling attacks of the tournament.

SportsKeeda takes a look at the three unnoticed things of the finals which played a significant role in the outcome of the match.

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#1 Five Players and the 2008 IPL final connect

Apart from Chennai playing both 2008 and 2018 final, there was another striking similarity in players appearing in those matches. Five players from either side inclusive of Shane Watson, Ravindra Jadeja, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yusuf Pathan and Suresh Raina appeared in the big finals ten years apart. Shane Watson and Ravindra Jadeja were the luckier of the lot tasting success in both. Shane Watson is now the only player to score more than one century for two different teams in IPL history.

#2 Suresh Raina becomes the third Indian to smash 700 Fours in T20 history

Fondly called as ”Chinna Thala” by the Chennai fans, Suresh Raina earned the name through his on-field consistency with the bat which is further highlighted by smashing 700 fours in T20 history, and only two Indians achieved these feet before. He was consistent in all editions of the IPL and never had an offseason with the bat and always relied on hitting boundaries to maximize his strike rate instead of taking the lofted route for scoring the maximums. He is the next captain in the waiting for Chennai Super Kings, if and when Dhoni decides to call it quit in the near future.

#3 Williamson becomes only third captain to score 700+ runs in an IPL season

Trusted with the captaincy in place of tainted David Warner, Kane Williamson carried his team with the bat and on the field successfully and within the touching distance of winning IPL trophy. He started the season with modest returns with the bat and found form midway, scoring runs with an astonishing strike rate matching the batting prowess of Warner.

He also became only third captain to score 700 plus runs in an IPL season in the process. He would have dearly loved to cap this successful season with an IPL trophy which was not meant to be in the end thanks to the heroics of Shane Watson.