IPL 2023 Final: Chennai Super Kings are crowned champions of the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). They clinched the fifth IPL title on Monday after beating Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in a last-ball thriller at Narendra Modi Stadium.
The fans wouldn’t have expected a better final than this in the history of the Indian Premier League. It went right down to the wire and in the end, it was Chennai Super Kings, who had the last laugh.
Needing 10 off the final two overs, the CSK fans had lost all hopes as Mohit Sharma had bowled outstanding first four deliveries of the over. However, Ravindra Jadeja held his nerves and hit a six and a four on the final two balls to win the game and clinch their fifth title win, and, thereby, become the joint second most successful team in the IPL along with Mumbai Indians.
Chennai Super Kings bowlers didn’t have a great outing with the ball and looked scratchy on the field. They dropped catches, misfielded and the bowlers were tonked all around the park.
As a result, Gujarat Giants notched a huge score of 214 runs on the board in the first innings. W Saha (54) and Gill (39) provided a brilliant start but it was Sai Sudharsan, who stole the show with his outstanding knock of 96 off 47 balls. Hardik Pandya also chipped in with a handy cameo of 21 off 12.
CSK Were Set to Chase 171 rund in 15 Overs due to Rain
Unfortunately, the rain arrived in the first over of the second innings and the match was shortened to 15 overs after that.
As a result, CSK had a revised target of 171 runs to chase down in 15 overs. They need a quick-fire start and the openers didn’t disappoint. Conway and Gaikwad made an outstanding start in the powerplay and reached 72 runs in the first six overs without losing any wickets.
After pacers went for runs, Rashid Khan was brought on in the 4th over but the Gaikwad hammered him a four and six to smash 17 off the over. It was Noor Ahmed, who brought them back into the game.
It conceded only 5 in its first over and then picked the wickets of Gaikwad and Conway in its next over right after the powerplay to leave CSK in some trouble at 78 for 2. CSK needed to keep scoring runs at a good pace despite the fall of wickets and Ajinkya Rahane helped them with that.
With Dube struggling to get his timing right, Rahane smashed some brilliant shots en-route to his impactful knock of 27 off 13 to keep CSK in the hunt.
Mohit Sharma’s Heroics Goes in Vain in a Nerve-Pinching Final Over as Ravindra Jadeja Hit Winning Runs
Rayudu arrived in the 11th over and smashed two sixes and a four to Mohit Sharma before getting out on the fourth ball of the 13th over. Runs kept coming for CSK but the match was still evenly poised as Gujarat was able to pick wickets in intervals as well.
MS Dhoni made his arrival after Rayudu’s departure but send the ball straight into the hands of Miller at cover on the very first ball he faced.
The equation came down to 21 needed off the final two overs and Shami produced a sensational penultimate over, conceding just 8 runs. The first four balls of the final over from Mohit Sharma conceded just three and CSK fans had little hope after that.
However, Jadeja did the unthinkable and the Narendra Modi Stadium stood to its feet to applaud his brilliance and celebrate CSK’s fifth IPL title victory.
IPL Final 2023 Scorecard:
Brief Scores: Gujarat Titans 214/4 in 20 overs (Sai Sudharsan 96, Wriddhiman Saha 54) lost to Chennai Super Kings 171/5 in 20 overs (Devon Conway 47, Shivam Dube 32*) by 5 wickets (DLS method)
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