Controversy-hit IPL heads towards finale with MI vs CSK

Mumbai, Apr 24 (PTI) Mired in a financial scandal, the
Indian Premier League's third season is set for a grand
cricketing finale nonetheless with Mumbai Indians, sweating
over talismanic skipper Sachin Tendulkar's fitness, taking on
Chennai Super Kings at the D Y Patil Stadium here on Sunday.
IPL and controversy have been bed-fellows since the
league's very inception but this time, it's a crisis of
monumental proportions as allegations ranging from money
laundering to betting to match fixing are flying thick and
fast.
Besides, the league's conceptualiser and boss Lalit Modi
faces a grim future as the Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI) prepares to shut him out after being embarrassed
by the Income tax department's 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 -- Shard Pawar and Praful Patel --
are facing the heat for their alleged involvement in the IPL's
affairs.
But despite furore off the field, it has been business as
usual on it.
Ahead of the final tomorrow, Mumbai are keeping their
fingers crossed over Tendulkar's 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.
A final call is to be taken on his availability later
on Saturday but if he's forced to sit out it will be a huge
blow to Mumbai's 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 tournament-high 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 big-hitting West Indian all rounder Kieron Pollard.
If Tiwary and Rayudu can be complimented for building on
the strong base provided by Tendulkar's mastery at the top,
Pollard has wielded the bat like a pickaxe and provided a
pulsating finish to the innings. PTI