IPL 2023 Final: Chennai Super Kings clinch 5th title with 5-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in Ravindra Jadeja’s last over

Chennai Super Kings emerged victorious against Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2023 final in a rain-affected thriller at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Despite the challenge of chasing down a formidable target of 215 set by GT, CSK registered a five-wicket win on Tuesday. The match began on Monday evening, but rain interrupted CSK’s chase after just three balls of the first over, with the scoreboard showing four runs. After another rain delay, play finally resumed.

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Two shots of excellence and moderation!

Finishing in style, the Ravindra Jadeja way#TATAIPL , #Last , #CSKVGT pic.twitter.com/EbJPBGGGFu– Indian Premier League (@IPL) May 29, 2023

Ruturaj Gaikwad (26) and Devon Conway (47) shared a flamboyant partnership to lay the foundation for the chase. Contributions from Ajinkya Rahane (27) and Ambati Rayudu (19) further lightened the burden. However, with Rayudu’s dismissal, with 22 runs needed off 14 balls, CSK skipper MS Dhoni walked into the field as the sixth batsman, but was dismissed for a golden duck by Mohit Sharma. As the match reached its climax, with 10 runs required from just two balls, Ravindra Jadeja smashed Mohit for a sensational six over long-on, followed by a four to seal the title for CSK.

The win marked an impressive turnaround for CSK, who finished ninth last season. With their fifth IPL title, they joined Mumbai Indians in the record books. Additionally, skipper Dhoni, appearing in his 11th final, equaled Rohit Sharma’s record of winning the most titles as captain.

Earlier, Wriddhiman Saha’s crucial half-century (54 off 39 balls) along with Sai Sudarshan’s (96 off 41) brilliant half-century helped Gujarat Titans reach 214/4 against Chennai Super Kings. Sudarshan looked flawless during his innings and played some breathtaking shots against an undisciplined bowling line-up. Apart from Sudarshan and Saha, Shubman Gill (39 off 20 balls) and Hardik Pandya (21 off 12 balls) also made important contributions with the bat.

Asked to bat first, openers Gill and Saha were a bit cautious in their approach in the first two overs against Deepak Chahar and Tushar Deshpande and some poor fielding also helped them.

In the second over of the innings bowled by Deshpande, CSK skipper MS Dhoni placed Deepak Chahar at backward square and Gill hit the ball there but the pacer could not catch it, turning the tide in Gujarat’s favour.

From there, both Chahar and Deshpande were taken on by Gill and Saha. Even spinner Mahesh Thiksana, who came in to bowl the sixth over, was treated severely as Gujarat Titans reached 62/0 at the end of the power-play.

It was Ravindra Jadeja who got CSK the first breakthrough by removing the dreaded Gill because of Dhoni’s pace and incredible gloves. Gill pulled his back leg out and with the speed with which Dhoni works, the batsman didn’t even have time to think about going back to the crease.

Things slowed down a bit for Gujarat’s batsmen – Saha and Sai Sudarshan after Gill’s wicket. CSK spinners, Jadeja and Theksana were getting some help from the pitch as the Titans reached 86/1 at the halfway mark.

With 10 overs left and nine wickets in hand, Sai and Saha decided to step up and gave some momentum to the Titans’ innings by scoring 23 runs off Jadeja and Mathisha Pathirana in the next two overs. Saha, who came in to open the innings and looked confident from the start, hit Jadeja between short third and backward point to bring up his half-century off 36 balls.

Things were going pretty well for Gujarat and Dhoni brought Deepak Chahar into the attack. The pacer, who didn’t have a good night in the field, got Saha to pull over the top and Dhoni took a simple catch, leaving Gujarat at 131-2 after 14 overs.

Sai Sudarshan was a bit slow in the middle overs due to lethargy but then decided to tee off. The left-handed batsman had skipper Hardik Pandya at the other end but he took it upon himself to score runs at a brisk pace. Some poor bowling from Teekshana and Pathirana also helped their cause as Sudarshan brought up his fifty off 32 balls.

After reaching his fifty, Sudarshan went even more aggressive and smashed Deshpande for 20 runs in one over with the help of a six and three fours. Gujarat were 173/2 in 17 overs and were all set to get a big total on the board.

Gujarat got just nine runs in the next over bowled by Pathirana but Tushar Deshpande was cleaned up by Pandya and Sai Sudarshan for 18 as nothing went well for the CSK bowlers against a strong Titans batting line-up. Was.

Pathirana came to bowl the last over and welcomed him by hitting sixes in the first two balls. However, the Sri Lankan pacer had the last laugh as he trapped Sudarshan in front of the wicket, ending the left-handed batting line-up and denying him a chance to score his maiden IPL hundred.

In the next three balls, Pathirana conceded just two runs and also removed Rashid Khan as Gujarat Titans ended with 214/4 on the board.