Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cruised into the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 with a 15-run win over Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 1 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday.
Match Report
Ruturaj Gaikwad starred with the bat for CSK, scoring 60 runs off 44 balls. Ambati Rayudu (17 off 9) and Ravindra Jadeja (22 off 16) also made valuable contributions, as CSK posted a competitive 172 for 7 in their 20 overs. In reply, GT got off to a slow start, losing Wriddhiman Saha (11) and Hardik Pandya (11) inside the Powerplay. Shubman Gill (42) and David Miller (26) tried to rebuild the innings, but they could not get the big shots away and GT was eventually bowled out for 157 in 19.4 overs.
Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers for CSK, taking 2 for 18 in his four overs. Mahesh Theekshana and Deepak Chahar also picked up two wickets each.
Here are the match’s pivotal moments:
- Ruturaj Gaikwad gets CSK off to a flying start: Gaikwad opened the batting for CSK and he looked in good touch. He hit some boundaries early on and he also picked up a couple of fours off Rashid Khan. He was eventually dismissed by Mohammed Shami, but he had done enough damage by then.
- Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja make valuable contributions: After Gaikwad’s dismissal, Rayudu and Jadeja came together and they put on a 50-run partnership for the third wicket. Rayudu was the aggressor of the two, while Jadeja played the role of the anchor. Rayudu was eventually dismissed by Rashid Khan, but Jadeja stayed till the end and he helped CSK post a competitive total.
- GT gets off to a slow start: GT got off to a slow start in their chase. They lost both their openers inside the Powerplay and they were struggling at 37 for 2.
- Shubman Gill and David Miller try to rebuild the innings: Gill and Miller came together and they tried to rebuild the innings. They put on a 50-run partnership for the third wicket, but they were unable to get the big shots away. Gill was eventually dismissed by Deepak Chahar, while Miller was dismissed by Mahesh Theekshana.
- Ravindra Jadeja is the pick of the bowlers for CSK: Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers for CSK. He took 2 for 18 in his four overs and also picked up the wicket of Shubman Gill.
Mahesh Theekshana and Deepak Chahar also pick up two wickets each: Theekshana and Chahar also picked up two wickets each. Theekshana took the wickets of David Miller and Rashid Khan, while Chahar took the wickets of Wriddhiman Saha and Hardik Pandya.
With the win, CSK has now reached the IPL final for the 10th time, more than any other team in the competition. They will face the winner of the Eliminator between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final on May 29.
Conclusion:
CSK’s win over GT was a clinical performance from start to finish. They batted well to post a competitive total and then they bowled superbly to restrict GT to a below-par score. Jadeja was the star of the show with the bat and the ball, but he was well-supported by the rest of the team. CSK will now be looking to win their fourth IPL title when they take on the winner of the Eliminator in the final on May 29.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the match:
Ruturaj Gaikwad is back in form: Gaikwad has been one of the most consistent batsmen in the IPL over the past few years, but he had struggled for form in the early stages of this season. However, he showed his class in Qualifier 1, scoring 60 runs off 44 balls. His knock was full of timing and power, and it gave CSK a solid platform to build on.