Controversy-hit IPL heads towards finale with MI vs CSK

Mired in a financial scandal the Indian Premier Leagues third season is set for a grand cricketing finale nonetheless with Mumbai Indians sweating over talismanic skipper Sachin Tendulkars fitness taking on Chennai Super Kings at the D Y Patil Stadium here IPL and controversy have been bedfellows since the leagues very inception but this time its a crisis of monumental proportions as allegations ranging from money laundering to betting to match fixing are flying thick and fast Besides the leagues conceptualiser and boss Lalit Modi faces a grim future as the BCCI prepares to shut him out after being embarrassed by the Income tax departments raids that have revealed murky financial dealings and benami holdings in at least three franchises Junior foreign minister Shashi Tharoor lost his job after trying to mentor the Kochi franchise bid while two other ministers in the government Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel are facing the heat for their alleged involvement in the IPLs affairs But despite furore off the field it has been business as usual on it Mumbai are keeping their fingers crossed over Tendulkars finger injury The split webbing in his right hand could not have come at a more inopportune time for Mumbai who made their maiden entry into the Twenty20 event final by outsmarting Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday in the first semifinal Sachins absence will be a huge blow to Mumbais hopes of clinching the coveted title for the first time in three years Tendulkar has been in terrific form and was also declared the best batsman in the IPL awards function last night after notching up a tournamenthigh tally of runs 570 runs going into the final Though the batting great has has led his team astutely others have also contributed significantly to pilot the Mumbai outfit into the summit clash Notable performers among these are Saurabh Tiwary who has come good at every opportunity Ambati Rayudu who has also doubled up as a wicket keeper and done a fairly good job and the bighitting West Indian all rounder Kieron Pollard If Tiwary and Rayudu can be complimented for building on the strong base provided by Tendulkars mastery at the top Pollard has wielded the bat like a pickaxe and provided a pulsating finish to the inningsu00a0 The Mahendra Singh Dhoniled Super Kings have their task cut out A major worry has been the indifferent form of Matthew Hayden in the second half of the tournament The form of Suresh Raina has been the cornerstone of their batting while Murali Vijay and S Badrinath have come out with good knocks on occasions They would be very happy with the return to form of skipper Dhoni The new ball bowlers barring Doug Bollinger have been something of a let down with none to support the Australian pacer adequately The team has relied on spinner R Ashwin to take the pace off the ball in the first six overs constituting the power play and he has risen to the occasion Super Kings fielded three spinners in the semi final against last years winners Deccan Chargers by fielding Ashwin leftarm Shadab Jakati and off spin great Muttiah Muralitharan With the wicket at the venue showing signs of offering turn coupled with their pace bowling woes the Super Kings could repeat the same strategy against Mumbai in the contest to decide the biggest prize