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IPL 2023 GT vs CSK Qualifier 1: Chennai defeat Gujarat by 15 runs, enter IPL finals for record 10th time

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) by 15 runs on Tuesday to enter the IPL 2023 finals. The franchise will play their record 10th IPL final on 28 May, as the MS Dhoni-led team hopes to equalize their championship wins with the Mumbai Indians.

On the slow ground of MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway displayed their powerful combination and gave a good start to their team. GT bowlers somehow came back into the game and restricted the strong batting unit of CSK to 172 runs.

GTs started on a turbulent note and kept losing wickets on one side, while Shubman Gill was smashing boundaries on the other. But, as Ravindra Jadeja took out Shubman Gill, the hopes of GT fans were dashed. The subsequent batters kept struggling and finally, CSK took the game home by 15 runs.

CSK innings

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway have been one of the most successful opening combinations in this season of the IPL 2023 and tonight cricket fans again saw that as the 87 runs opening partnership gave a good start to the team.

Mohammad Shami started the bowling attack for GT with Darshan Nalkande, but couldn’t provide the best start for their franchise. The batters knew who they had to target and were playing very carefully against dangerous bowlers like Mohammad Shami and Rashid Khan.

Mohit Sharma gave the first breakthrough to the GT as he dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad (60) and then Noor Ahmad took out Shivam Dube (1) in the next over. The two wickets slowed down the innings of CSK and soon Ajinkya Rahane (17) and Devon Conway (40) also walked back to the pavilion.

GT bowlers were looking in complete control now and Ravindra Jadeja and Ambati Rayudu were playing very cautiously. Rashid Khan was slowly intensifying his pressure on the batters and after smashing a beautiful six, Ambati Rayudu (17) was dismissed.

Amid a cheering crowd, CSK skipper MS Dhoni (1) entered the ground but was soon dismissed by Mohit Sharma. Ravindra Jadeja (22) and Moeen Ali (9*) couldn’t do much during the last over.

At the end of the first innings, CSK was at 172/7

GT innings

Chasing 173, Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill entered the ground aiming to provide a good start to their team. After a couple of boundaries, Deepak Chahar bowled a beautiful delivery to dismiss Wriddhiman Saha (12) and skipper Hardik Pandya walked on the ground.

Amid the fierce attack by CSK bowlers, Shubman Gill was playing his game while Hardik Pandya (8) tried to play cautiously. But, Maheesh Theekshana took the skipper out and GT was looking in some trouble now.

Dasun Shanaka (17) entered the grounds and GT fans hoped that he will support Shubman Gill. He smashed one beautiful six and a four, but soon Ravindra Jadeja dismissed him. David Miller (4) who is an explosive player also didn’t do much and Ravindra Jadeja also sent him back to the pavilion.

But, then came the biggest jolt for GT, as Shubman Gill (42) was dismissed by Deepak Chahar and now GT needed something significant to come back into the game. Soon, Rahul Tewatiya (3) also followed Gill to the pavilion. 

Vijay Shankar who came in as ‘impact player’ played some struggling shots with Rashid Khan (30). Tushar Deshpande bowled a expensive 17th over, but in the next over Vijay Shankar (14) and Darshan Nalkande (0) both walked back to the pavilion.

At the end of second innings GT was all-out at the score of 157.