Gujarat Titans (GT) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by five wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad yesterday.
Sent into bat after losing the toss, CSK put 178/7 on the board as Ruturaj Gaikwad top scored with 92 off 50. Shubman Gill (63 off 36) sparked Gujarat’s chase before a whirlwind sixth wicket stand of 26* between Rashid Khan (10* off 3) and Rahul Tewatia (15* off 14) took GT home in 19.2 overs.
With two overs to go, Gujarat needed 23. Rashid smashed the first ball he faced from Deepak Chahar over midwicket for a six. The next ball went for a four as Rashid threw his bat at it. Tewatia then hit Tushar Deshpande for six and four off consecutive deliveries to take Gujarat to the target.
Chasing 179, GT off to a flying start, racing to 65/1 at the end of the powerplay. Deshpande, who became the first Impact Player in the IPL, replacing Ambati Rayudu, got a six and a four from Wriddhiman Saha. The GT opener looked ominous but perished for 25 off 16, straying Rajvardhan Hangargekar at deep third man.
Gill, however, continued his impressive form to reach another half-century. He lifted Deshpande for a six over wide mid on and rotated the shot well.
Gill and Sai Sudharsan, who came in as an Impact Player in place of the injured Kane Williamson, added 53 for the second wicket before the latter fell to 22 off 17. He stole a short shot from Hangargekar Dhoni.
However, in the very next over, Gill hit Ravindra Jadeja for four and six off consecutive deliveries and soon reached his half-century.
Jadeja kept Chennai in the hunt, cleaning up Hardik Pandya (8) as the GT captain missed the swing. Gill’s fine batting ended when he toe-ended a Deshpande pull to deep midwicket.
Vijay Shankar contributed a handy 27 off 21 before Rashid and Tewatia provided the final tally.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s brilliance lifts CSK to 178/7
Gaikwad hit four fours and nine sixes in a scintillating display of clean hitting as Chennai put a competitive score on the board, even as Gujarat continued to chip away at the other end.
Bowling first after winning the toss, Mohammad Shami got GT off to a good start, cleaning up Devon Conway (1) with a full shot that hit around the wicket. CSK went on an extravagant drive for the first time but was defeated on all fronts. The scalp was Shami’s 100th in the IPL.
Gaikwad got Josh Little in the fourth over, smashing him for six off four consecutive deliveries. Moeen Ali took charge of Shami when he made 17 in the fifth over.
The left-hander had an lbw decision against Rashid overturned in the last over of the powerplay. The leggy GT, however, had the last laugh when Moeen (23) attempted a powerful shot at the keeper.
Gaikwad continued in impressive fashion. In the seventh over, he launched Pandya for a maximum through the offside. At the other end, Ben Stokes (7) was caught by Rashid’s skidder even as Gaikwad raced past his fifty in 23 balls, hitting Alzarri Joseph for three sixes in the over.
CSK’s batting looked in great form at one end but Ambati Rayudu (12) perished with a bad shot. He was cleared by Little while on a wild play.
Gaikwad’s fine knock ended when he was caught by Joseph on a high throw as he attempted another big shot. Jadeja (1) also perished in the same over, hitting the Gujarat pacer straight to deep midwicket.
Shivam Dube struggled to get most of his innings going. He managed to score a six off Shami but fell for an embarrassing 19 off 18 the very next ball.
CSK captain MS Dhoni (14* off 7) played a handy cameo, hitting Little for a four and a six in the last over.
GT vs CSK: Who won man of the match in yesterday’s IPL 2023 match?
Gaikwad excelled for CSK with the bat. But for his innings, Chennai would have struggled to post a competitive score. Hangargekar impressed with the ball, taking 3/36.
For GT, pacers Shami and Joseph won two scalps each. Rashid also picked up two wickets and played a sizzling cameo as well. Gill laid the foundation for the chase with another impressive knock.
Rashid was named man of the match for his all-round brilliance.