IPL 2023 Qualifier 1: Chennai Super Kings beat defending champions Gujarat Titans to reach 10th final

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By Rajarshi Gupta: Chennai Super Kings defeated defending champions Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 at the Chepauk on Tuesday to enter the final of the 2023 Indian Premier League. GT will get another chance to reach the title clash when they take on the winner of the Eliminator between Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 on Friday.

This is the 10th time that Chennai Super Kings have reached an IPL final. The four-time champions finished 9th in the points table last summer but they bounced back in sensational style this season. CSK finished second in the points table with 17 points from 14 matches thanks to some heroics from their openers, middle-order batters, rookie bowlers and outstanding captaincy from MS Dhoni.

On Tuesday, Ruturaj Gaikwad top-scored with a classy 60, Ravindra Jadeja (22 and 2 for 18) starred with the bat and ball and Deepak Chahar picked the crucial wickets of Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill to take the Super Kings to script a memorable victory as their home fans cheered on.

This was Chennai Super Kings’ first win over Gujarat Titans. Before this game, GT had won all their three matches against the Super Kings.

Gujarat Titans suffered an early setback in their chase when Deepak dismissed Chahar Wriddhiman Saha in the third over of the innings. Hardik Pandya came in at No.3 in a high-pressure game, but he was removed by Maheesh Theekshana soon after, as GT tottered in the Powerplay. The onus was now on Shubman Gill, who had hit two back-to-back hundreds before the first qualifier.

Unlike the last two innings, Shubman Gill did not get off to a great start on a pitch which MS Dhoni had reckoned would start to slow down later in the game. When he reached 20, Gill became only the second Indian after Virat Kohli to go past 700 runs in an IPL season. Gill has been in outstanding form in the 2023 IPL and his runs were going to be crucial for the Titans.

CSK’s spinners had begun to choke GT but Dasun Shanaka showed great intent against his Sri Lankan teammate, hitting him for a four and six in the 10th over; but Shanka tried one shot too many as the required rate climbed beyond 10 and a failed reverse sweep against Ravindra Jadeja ended up at Theekshana’s hands at short third-man.

Gujarat Titans were in further trouble when Ravindra Jadeja snared David Miller in his final over. In the next over, the writing was on the wall for the Titans after Deepak Chahar dismissed Shubman Gill for 42 as Rahul Tewatia joined Vijay Shankar at the crease. Tewatia has finished a lot of chases for the Titans over the last two seasons, but it wasn’t to be tonight as Theekshana picked another wicket to dent the reigning champions.

Rashid Khan joined forces with Vijay Shankar and brought the Titans back into the game with some quick runs. MS Dhoni had an argument with umpires who stopped Matheesha Pathirana from bowling immediately after his 9-minute break. The discussion between the CSK captain and match officials drew the ire of the commentators as Simon Doull called it unnecessary and felt Dhoni might regret stalling the game.

However, Matheesha Pathirana struck to dismiss Vijay Shankar, who was sensationally caught by Ruturaj Gaikwad in the deep. Off the very next ball in the 18th over, GT lost another wicket when Darshan Nalkande was run out.

Rashid Khan was now the lone man standing between CSK and yet another IPL final. GT needed 35 off the last two overs with Tushar Deshpande and Matheesha Pathirana set to bowl one over apiece. The result was a foregone conclusion when Deshpande dismissed Rashid and GT were 9 down for 142.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway were not at their fluent best after Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and chose to bowl, but the two Chennai Super Kings openers still managed to get to 49 for no loss at the end of the Powerplay. Gaikwad got an early life when Darshan Nalkande bowled a no-ball after he had hit it straight to Shubman Gill inside the circle. Gaikwad hit the free-hit for a six and then settled into a good rhythm while Conway struggled to get going.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway were spectacular against Delhi Capitals. They had added 141 for the first wicket on a terrific batting pitch, but in the first Qualifier on Tuesday, Conway was slow off the blocks and could never catch up with the dynamic Gaikwad who hit his second consecutive half-century this season and fourth in four matches against the Titans.

Mohit Sharma made the first breakthrough for GT when he dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad for a 44-ball 60. Shivam Dube could not replicate his six-hitting form from some of the earlier matches this summer, but the Super Kings were boosted by cameos from Ajinkya Rahane and Ambati Rayudu, who scored 17 apiece. It wasn’t Devon Conway’s evening; he has been in fine form this season, but in his first ever IPL playoff, Conway was found wanting and he managed 40 off 34 balls before falling to Mohammed Shami.

MS Dhoni walked in to bat to a huge roar but he scored only 1 off 2 before Mohit Sharma sent him back to the pavilion. It was left to Ravindra Jadeja to score some important runs down the order with 22 off 16 balls. Thanks to his efforts, CSK reached 172 for 7, a par score on the surface.

Mohammed Shami (2 for 28) and Mohit Sharma (2 for 31) were the pick of the bowlers for Gujarat Titans, while Noor Ahmad bowled economically to finish with 1 for 29 off 4 overs. Rashid Khan picked a wicket with the final ball of his spell, while Darshan Nalkande was the most expensive bowler for GT, conceding 44 runs off 4 overs.



Source: www.indiatoday.in

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