Hours before final, Dhoni ready to become CSK's Rashid Khan

Dhoni doesn’t have to look too far for an inspiration. The opposition leggie Rashid Khan and perhaps the biggest threat to CSK’s third IPL title, has been foxing the batsmen at will.

Who knows, in Dhoni, CSK might just have found the answer to Rashid Khan.

Seeing the unprecedented success of wrist spinners in the shortest format, Dhoni may use himself in the final to stop the charge of Williamson and Co.

The CSK captain was seen spending considerable time in the nets, practicing bowling leg spin. While this is not the first time that Dhoni was seen bowling leg breaks in practice session, that he was doing so on the eve of the final bears special significance.

CSK does have the option of picking leg spinner Karn Sharma but it is unlikely that he would get the go ahead over Harbhajan Singh, who brings in the experience required for a big match like the final.

Therefore there should not be many rising eyebrows, if Dhoni does decide to give his gloves to Rayudu and roll his arms over for an over or two in the final.

“The batsmen generally take time against the wrsit spinners because of the wron’un or googly. It is very difficult to pick the googly at times and even when you pick it, you can’t be sure how much it will turn. I thin that’s why leg-spinners are so successful in T20 cricket,” Dhoni said ahead of the final

But Chennai Super Kings go beyond just experience. Not only do they have players in their squad, who have faced high voltage matches multiple times in their career but they are led by a captain, who has won two IPLs, two World Cups and an ICC Champions Trophy in his illustrious career.

Dhoni again would play a key role in the big final. Known for keeping his cards close to him, Dhoni is set to roll out another one of his trump cards in the final to stump Sunrisers in the final.

However, there is a catch. Unlike other situations, the trump card for CSK is Dhoni himself.

There is a very slim chance that Dhoni would make any changes to their playing XI for the final. If anything, Billings, may find himself a bit unlucky because his replacement Du Plessis, who played a stellar role in the Qualifier 1.

Nerves are set to play a big role in a stage as big as the IPL final. No matter how experienced you are, the final is sure to give an adrenaline rush to even the best.

The winners-take-all T20 final, in front of a capacity crowd at the Wankhede Stadium, will see Chennai Super Kings, who are gunning for their third IPL crown, take on 2016 winners Sunrisers Hyderabad five days after their first play-off game at the same neutral venue.