IPL 2018 Final, CSK vs SRH Live Score: Chennai Super Kings beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 8 wickets

D Chahar to S Dhawan, Around off on a length, defended towards point.

D Chahar to S Goswami, Back to over the wicket, it lands on a length on the pads. Shreevats nudges it down to fine leg for one.

D Chahar to S Dhawan, The Free Hit doesn't prove costly. Chahar comes in from round the wicket and bowls it full around off. Dhawan hits it aerially towards wide long on for one to get going.

Free Hit coming up...

D Chahar to S Goswami, No ball to start! Chahar runs in from over the wicket and lets out a high full toss outside off. Immediately the umpire's arm is seen coming out. Goswami is caught by surprise and ends up directing it past backward point for one.

It's 5 hours before the end of the day. This signals time for the sport to take centrestage. Out walk the umpires for the night, clad in different shades of blue. The Chennai players follow them and jog to the field. Shikhar Dhawan and Shreevats Goswami make their way to the middle now, shadow-practicing their batting. Deepak Chahar is all ready to deliver the first ball of the finale. A wide slip in place.

Both the teams walk out on the red carpets laid down for both of them. When both sides walk out together, it means that it's time for the national anthem.

Kane Williamson says that although he is happy to bat first, they also would have liked to bowl first. Reckons that the surface looks good and they would want to defend whatever they put on board. Talks about the occasion being a good one and something that they are looking forward to. About team changes, he informs the couple of changes that they have made - Sandeep Sharma comes in for Khaleel Ahmed and since Wriddhiman Saha is injured, Shreevats Goswami takes his place as the gloveman.

MS Dhoni says they will bowl first and feels that their batsman have to take the extra pressure and responsibility. Reckons that runs on the board is always good in a final but looking at the conditions he has chosen to bowl. Further adds that the journey has been good for them but a challenging one. Also believes that they had the core group with a few new faces and it helped. Informs about the only change, Harbhajan Singh makes way for Karn Sharma.

TOSS - Dhoni flips the coin. It comes down, goes for a walk and finally lands as Heads. There is a slight confusion about who called what. After some laughs, it is clarified that Williamson called Tails. As a result, the Men in Yellow win the toss and CHENNAI WILL FIELD.

PITCH REPORT - The track, Michael Clarke observes, seems to be tacky on top but dry underneath. He expects assistance for the bowlers as well. The average score batting first is 171. The Aussie reckons that if he wins the toss as a captain on this surface, he would send the opposition in.

Both the sides are aptly led by two of the coolest captains in the tourney - MS Dhoni and Kane Williamson. The latter is also leading the run charts while the former has seemed to regain his Midas touch. Mind you, yet again the best batting line-up in this competition squares up against the best bowling attack. These ingredients make this an interesting summit clash from the outset. Hopeful of a battle fitting the bill, we'll get you more details soon.

The route from Mumbai to Mumbai was via Kolkata for Hyderabad. Losing the Qualifier 1 against the same opponents at this very place - the Wankhede stadium, the Orange-clad side is here after arresting its 4-game winless streak by eliminating Kolkata. By contrast, Dad's Army as they're called, Chennai have had a good rest of about 4 days before today. Rested or rusted? We'll know soon.

All things, good and bad, have to come to an end. Likewise, after 59 games and about 6 weeks, we're down to this. One final time for us to get high on the T20 fervor of the Indian T20 League. There isn't much of a surprise looking at the sides clashing for the title in this 11th edition. After all, both Hyderabad and Chennai finished 1 and 2 at the end of the league stage. We are glad to have you with us for company.