IPL 2023: CSK beats GT in Qualifier 1 and enters the finals.
At the Chepauk stadium, there was a wave of despair as MS Dhoni was unable to resurrect his old magic with the bat. But by the conclusion of the evening, everything had vanished into thin air.
The thousands of spectators in the galleries understood that their celebration had only just begun, as Dhoni himself was grinning as he led the Chennai Super Kings to their 10th IPL championship in what was likely his farewell game at this venue.
CSK advanced to the IPL final for the tenth time as a result of Gujarat Titans’ inability to match the skill and calibre of a club that appeared to have a keen awareness of their home field while needing to win by 173 runs.
In order to defeat the cunning consumer, it was imperative that the Titans avoid taking too many risks. But when they did, Dasun Shanaka and David Miller gave away their wickets, tipping the scales in favour of CSK.
Despite having excellent bowlers, the CSK batsmen’s early luck when they were batting proved to be very important. When he hit a ball from medium-pacer Darshan Nalkande to Shubman Gill while on two runs, opener Ruturaj Gaikwad was in scoring position. Due to Nalkande’s overreach, which gave Ruturaj new life, it would have been a significant blow.
The following ball sailed for a six, and the audience screamed in joy. Suddenly, the Gujarat Titans were in a precarious position as the shots came pouring out of his bat during the powerplay. In the opening six overs, CSK had easily passed the 50-mark, with Devon Conway providing Ruturaj with helpful company as he searched for the gaps. On this pitch, their 87 from 10.3 overs was enormous.
Ruturaj (60 off 44 balls), who had played for CSK during his best years, was forced to make a false shot by experienced medium-pacer Mohit Sharma, who took advantage of the slow pitch to help GT get back into the match. CSK appeared to be stuck in the headlights for a spell, but the team possesses a strong batting lineup.
Jadeja, with 22 off 16 balls, and Moeen Ali provided the final flourish that helped CSK surpass the 170-point threshold even after Dhoni was removed after once again succumbing to Mohit’s slower ball. And when the day drew to a close, the yellow brigade discovered that it was more than enough.