Chennai Super Kings won their fifth Indian Premier League title on Monday, defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in a rain-shortened final in Ahmedabad.
Chasing 171 from 15 overs, Chennai got off to a good start thanks to a 74-run opening stand between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway. Gaikwad was dismissed for 26, but Conway continued to bat aggressively and scored 47 off 25 balls.
Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube also contributed with quickfire knocks, and Chennai needed just 10 runs off the last two overs to win.
Mohit Sharma bowled the last over, and he conceded just four runs off the first three balls. With six needed off the last ball, Ravindra Jadeja hit a six over long on to win the match for Chennai.
Jadeja was named the player of the match for his unbeaten 15 off six balls. He also took two wickets with the ball.
The win was Chennai’s fifth IPL title, and it came after they finished seventh in the league stage. They became the first team to win the IPL after finishing outside the top four.
Gujarat Titans, who were playing in their first final, were disappointed with the result, but they can be proud of their performance throughout the tournament. They won 10 of their 14 matches in the league stage, and they beat Rajasthan Royals in the qualifier to reach the final.
The final was a close and exciting match, and it was a fitting end to a thrilling IPL season. Chennai Super Kings are now the most successful team in the history of the IPL, and they will be looking to defend their title next year.
Here are some of the key moments from the match:
- Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway put on a 74-run opening stand.
- Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube also contributed with quickfire knocks.
- Ravindra Jadeja hit a six over long on to win the match for Chennai.
- Sai Sudharsan scored 96 for Gujarat Titans.
- Hardik Pandya scored 54 for Gujarat Titans.
- Mohit Sharma took three wickets for Chennai Super Kings.
- Matheesha Pathirana took two wickets for Gujarat Titans.
Here are some of the reactions from the players and coaches:
- MS Dhoni, captain of Chennai Super Kings: “It’s a great feeling to win the IPL again. We didn’t have the best of starts in the tournament, but we kept believing in ourselves and we came back strong. I’m really proud of the way the team has performed this year.”
- Hardik Pandya, captain of Gujarat Titans: “We’re disappointed with the result, but we can be proud of the way we played this season. We’re a young team, and we’ll learn from this experience and come back stronger next year.”
- Ravindra Jadeja, player of the match: “It’s a great feeling to win the IPL again. I’m really happy with the way I batted and bowled this season. I’m looking forward to defending our title next year.”
- IPL 2023 Final: Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans – An Expert Analysis