• Thursday, March 28, 2024

Sport

Gujarat set Chennai target of 215 in delayed IPL 2023 final; Shubman Gill falls for 39

The final is believed to be MS Dhoni’s last as a player

Sai Sudharsan of the Gujarat Titans plays a shot during the 2023 IPL final match against Chennai Super Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium on May 29, 2023 in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

By: Chandrashekar Bhat

Powered by Sai Sudarshan’s 47-ball 96, defending champions Gujarat Titans posted a total of 214 for 4 in 20 overs in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 after Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and asked Hardik Pandya’s side to bat first at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat.

Shubman Gill, who hit three centuries in the last four matches, fell for 39 off just 20 balls after getting stumped by the 41-year-old Dhoni. Wriddhiman Saha, the other opening batter and wicket-keeper, scored 54 off 39 balls. For Chennai, Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets for 44 runs in four overs. Deepak Chahar and ravindra Jadeja took one wicket each.

The game was being played on the reserve day (29) after play washed out on Sunday (28), the scheduled day, without a ball being bowled after rain and thunderstorms hit the western city of Ahmedabad, disappointing the crowd at the world’s biggest cricket stadium.

The match was pushed to the reserve day.

The final is believed to be Dhoni’s last as a player and thousands of fans wearing the superstar cricketer’s yellow jersey have returned to the 132,000-capacity stadium.

Chennai will be aiming for a record-equalling fifth title to go level with IPL powerhouse Mumbai Indians, led by all-format India captain Rohit Sharma.

With rain predicted and dark clouds hovering, Dhoni, who is playing his 250th IPL match, preferred to field. Chennai have gone with the same team that beat Gujarat in the first play-off last week.

Gujarat have extended their fairytale journey, which began with a title win in their debut season last year at the same venue.

Skipper Pandya returned with the same team that hammered Mumbai in the final playoff.

Chennai have won the IPL title four times while Gujarat won it in their debut season in 2022.

Teams
Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya (capt), Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Mohammed Shami

Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, M.S. Dhoni (capt, wk), Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana

(With AFP inputs)

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