Under the leadership of veteran MS Dhoni, Chennai Super Kings yet again entered the finals of the Indian Premier League. Facing the defending champions, the Yellow Army were always on the top as they managed to post 172 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Chasing a modest total, GT openers started on a fine note but as soon as Saha departed, Gujarat batters fell like a pack of cards. Meanwhile, CSK fans enjoyed their team’s success over GT as they are now one step closer to get their record fifth title. Follow IPL 2023 LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Virat Kohli & R Ashwin to travel later, Rahul Dravid & Co reach London for WTC Final
Chasing above 170 to win, Saha was the first man to depart in the powerplay when Deepak Chahar (2/29) chipped in the third over. Shubman Gill continued his good form and was the top scorer with 42 in 38 balls but saw the crumbling of Hardik Pandya (8), Dasun Shanaka (17) and David Miller (4) for cheap scores. Chahar returned in the middle overs for another spell and performed the trick he was invited for, getting rid of the set Gill. Ravindra Jadeja bowled 4 overs in no time and was brilliant again conceding just 18 and picking up 2 big wickets of Shanaka and Miller.
Rashid Khan (30 off 16) and impact player Vijay Shankar tried to take the game deep and kept them in the hunt with a 38 run partnership, the biggest of the innings but Matheesha Pathirana got rid of Shankar with Rashid slogging one straight to Conway off the bowling of Tushar Deshpande. Subhranshu Senapati who fumbled in the field and was asked to calm down by the skipper Dhoni then put up a magical display of fielding sending Darshan Nalkande for a golden duck hitting the bowling end stumps directly from mid off. In the end, the Yellow Army earned a comfortable victory over Gujarat to storm to another final.
“Best Franchise Ever” Chennai Fans Rejoice as CSK thump GT to Qualify for IPL 2023 Finals, Follow IPL 2023
Meanwhile, here are some Twitter Reactions: