IPL 2023 final: Chennai Super Kings win thriller vs Gujarat Titans to clinch 5th title

Ravindra Jadeja hit a six and four in the final two deliveries off Mohit Sharma to seal the victory for Chennai Super Kings who were playing their 10th final.

• Shubham
• 29 May, 2023

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By: Shubham Ghosh

A six and a four in the final two deliveries of the rain-delayed final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 hit by ace Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja saw Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beating defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets to lift the crown for a record-equalling fifth time at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on Tuesday (30).

Chennai, who started chasing the revised target of 171 in 15 overs well after the second half of the match was curtailed by rain, saw their scoring pace getting slowed down in the middle overs by a disciplined bowling by Gujarat bowlers. But Jadeja’s 10 runs off the last two balls brought the smile back to the face of the CSK supporters who felt increasingly tense. Opener Devon Conway made 47 off 25 balls while Ajinkya Rahane made 27 off 13 and another opener Ruturaj Gaikwad 26 off 16. For GT, Mohit Sharma was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 36 runs but it was him who failed to defend 13 runs off the last over. Jadeja remained not out on 15 off six balls. It was a mixed 250th IPL game for Dhoni who was dismissed in the very first ball that he faced.

Earlier, Gujarat posted a total of 214 for 4 in 20 overs after CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and asked them to bat. Sai Sudharsan top scored for the GT with 96 off 54 balls while Wriddhiman Saha made 54 off 39 balls. Shubman Gill, who plundered three centuries in four games ahead of the final to take GT to the final, fell for 39 off 20 deliveries. Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana picked two wickets for 44 runs.

With the win, Chennai equalled Mumbai Indians’ record of winning the IPL most number of times.

The final of the 2023 edition was scheduled for Sunday (28) but not a single ball could be bowled on the day and it was played on the reserve day (29) when the rain intervened as well.

Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 171 for 5 in 15 overs (Devon Conway 47, Ajinkya Rahane 27, Mohit Sharma 3 for 36) beat Gujarat Titans 214 for 4 in 20 overs (Sai Sudharshan 96, Matheesha Pathirana 2 for 44) by five wickets (revised target 171 in 15 overs)