Big game. Doesn't get bigger than this. Except when it does, on Sunday evening. But that's not going to stop Ravi Shastri from bellowing into your living rooms when it's toss time.
What do you call it when the Kings take on the Kings?
The league games between these two teams had all been about one man. What was it going to be about today? According to Chennai fans, it wasn't going to be so much about that man.
Forget Maxwell, the early exchanges were dominated by Virender Sehwag who rolled back the years with a murderous assault in the Powerplay.
The spinners weren't spared either. Sehwag scorched his way to 50 off 21 balls.
CSK dismissed Manan Vohra after a blistering opening partnership of 110 in 10.4 overs.
Sehwag's blitz had set it up nicely for the most anticipated battle of the day.
Ashwin moved over the stumps as he'd threatened. Maxwell thumped a six before holing out. Ashwin gave him a send-off.
Sehwag slowed down as the 100 approached, but still got there off 50 balls.
With the milestone out of the way, Sehwag kept hitting them out of the ground. David Miller joined in the rampage as 200 came up in the 18th over.
He fell eventually for a breath-taking 122 off 58.
Sehwag played some shots in the mid-game break as well.
Punjab only got 15 off the last 2 overs. Would that prove costly? Chennai lost Faf du Plessis early, but their best batsman set upon the chase in earnest
Raina's striking went into overdrive after he got to 50.
Raina looked set to chase the target down with time to spare when he was run out for 87 off 25, following a minor mix-up with Brendon McCullum.
Ravindra Jadeja counter-punched, but Punjab hit back with the wickets of McCullum, Jadeja and David Hussey in quick succession.
That was one too many blows to recover from, despite MS Dhoni hanging in there till the end - and getting a lucky break after being bowled by a big Mitchell Johnson no-ball. Punjab stormed into their first IPL final. And Chennai missed the decider for only the second time in seven years.
Seehwag ball, hit ball
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Seehwag ball, hit ball
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