Hyderabad:
Chennai Super Kings won the Indian Premier League-2023 final against the Gujarat Titans in the wee hours of Tuesday. In the rain-curtained thriller, CSK chased the total on the last ball of the tie.
This is CSK’s fifth IPL trophy, equaling Mumbai Indians’ record of most titles.
The final began on Monday, the reserve day, after it was washed off on Sunday. Winning the toss, CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided to field first on a track that seemed a touch slow but nonetheless a batting beauty.
Both sides batted with belligerence. For GT, Tamil Nadu Premier League-fame Sai Sudharsan scored 96 of 47 deliveries. He was ably supported by the calm and experienced Wriddhiman Saha (54 of 39). GT finished the innings with 214 on the board, giving CSK 215 to chase in their 20 overs.
There was some doubt if that score would be enough for GT, considering CSK was playing the game with eight pure batsmen.
MSD’s decision to bat second was perhaps a masterstroke as there was a rain interruption during the first over of the second innings.
When play restarted, CSK’s target was revised to 171 of 15 overs under the Duckworth Lewis Method.
That break of about one hour and the revised total seemed to have disturbed the bowling combinations of the Titans.
The CSK batters played only in fifth gear. Of the seven CSK players who batted, six batters registered a strike rate of over 150 and three batters had strike rates of over 200.
Devon Conway was the highest scorer for the yellow brigade (47 of 25). Shivam Dube, Ajinkya Rahane and Ambati Rayudu played blistering cameos as well.
All bowlers from both sides came under attack in the run-fiesta finale, with the exception of Mohit Sharma who picked up three wickets. But he too was expensive, conceding 36 runs in his three overs.
During their bowling effort, CSK fielded poorly. Deepak Chahar had dropped two catches. Even international heavyweights Conway and Ravindra Jadeja were sloppy.
What CSK lost in fielding, they more than made up for in efficient running between the wickets. CSK showed victory means hardwork.
GT captain Hardik Pandya may wonder if he could have done things differently, but isn't hindsight always twenty-twenty.
In the post-match interview, a phlegmatic Pandya took heart in his side's deep run in the tournament. "I think we tick a lot of boxes and we played with our hearts. We've always been a team that has stood together and no one gave up. We win together and we lose together. Maybe one of those (bad) games today. I mean, I'm not one of those guys who makes excuses. Special mention to Sai (Sudharsan)," he said.
His CSK counterpart Dhoni cleared the air that it would be an ''honour'' to wear the CSK yellow for another season. "The amount of love I have received from CSK fans, it would be a gift for them to play one more season. The way they've shown their love and emotion, it's something I need to do for them. It's the last part of my career. It started over here and the full house was chanting my name. It was the same thing in Chennai. It will be good to come back and play," an ebullient Dhoni said.
As the winner of the tournament, CSK took home a prize of Rs 20 crore. Being the runner-up, GT will get a sum of Rs 13 crore.
This final will be remembered as the final IPL match of Ambati Raydu, who announced his retirement last week.
Devon Conway was adjudged the player of the match.
Just as cream rises to the top, Shubman Gill (890 runs) bagged the player of the tournament award. Faf du Plessis (730 runs), Devon Conway (672 runs) and Mohammad Shami (28 wickets) were the other big performers of the tournament.
This IPL will be remembered as Yashasvi Jaiswal’s breakthrough season. The 21-year-old Rajasthan Royals opener was fourth on the highest individual run-scorers list with an impressive show of 625 runs in 14 matches. Jaiswal, who was spotted in the under-19 ODI world cup in 2020, has been rewarded with a call up to the test side.
Several Indian domestic players impressed this year. KKR’s middle-order southpaw Rinku Singh became a fan-favourite after his last over heroics against GT in the league phase when he smacked five consecutive sixes. The Kings XI Punjab duo of Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Mumbai Indians’ Akash Madhwal, and Kolkata Knight Riders’ Suyash Sharma will be on the watch-list of national team selectors after this IPL.
The world’s most popular cricket league has ended on a promising note, specifically in terms of unearthing new talent and drawing eyeballs.
Viewership numbers reached new highs this season with many high-octane encounters. The digital and high definition TV viewership recorded exponential growth too, claimed broadcasters.
Called ‘the festival of happiness’ (hindi: khushiyon ka tyohar), this year’s IPL has sure lived up to its billing.
