The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League needed a crazy final to typify a record-breaking season and Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings played out a classic to live up to the billing. It took the final ball of the last match of the season to crown the champions and it was MS Dhoni's men who lifted their fifth IPL title in one of the most thrilling finals in the history of the competition.
Chennai Super Kings' chase was only three balls old when the rain arrived as the uninvited guest for a second day running. A lengthy rain delay resulted in the match being reduced to 15 overs, handing the chasing side a slight advantage in the grand finale.
The Yellow Army needed a herculean effort from their openers, and Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway lived up to their lofty standards, smashing 74 runs for the opening wicket in just over six overs. Conway, who was looking in supreme touch, became Noor Ahmad's second victim in one over as the home side found a way back into the contest.
Despite those two wickets in quick succession, the four-time champions kept dreaming, thanks to Ajinkya Rahane's silky smooth cameo. Although Mohit Sharma dismissed the veteran Indian batter in his first over, the hard-hitting Shivam Dube kept his side in the chase with consecutive sixes off Rashid Khan.
Ambati Rayudu, playing his last IPL match, brought his side to the cusp of victory after smashing Mohit Sharma for three consecutive boundaries. However, the veteran pacer hit back with two wickets off consecutive deliveries, the second one of MS Dhoni for a golden duck to silence a shocked crowd in Ahmedabad.
Mohit Sharma delivered a sensational final over with the Yellow Army seemingly out of the contest, that is when CSK's champion all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja rose to the occasions, smashing a maximum and a boundary of the final two balls of IPL 2023 to claim a historic victory in front of his home crowd.
Sai Sudharsan saves his best for the last
The defending champions were put into bat first by CSK's iconic skipper MS Dhoni on a belter of a track in Ahmedabad. Despite the deluge on Sunday, the ball was coming on nicely for the batters, but it was the visitors who had the chance to draw first blood in the contest, only for Deepak Chahar to put down an absolute dolly.
A menacing Shubman Gill took full advantage of that reprieve, smashing 39 runs off just 20 deliveries in a blistering opening stand with Wriddhiman Saha. While Dhoni's sizzling glovework put an end to Gill's stay at the crease, Saha continued the attack from the other end.
The diminutive wicketkeeper-batter breached the 50-run mark in a solid stand with Sai Sudharsan. The latter, who was sluggish in his approach initially, put on his dancing shoes later in the match. He took a liking to CSK's young Indian pacer Tushar Deshpande as Gujarat put their foot down the accelerator in the death overs.
The 21-year-old batter from Chennai played the innings of his life, smashing 96 runs off just 47 deliveries to take his side to a formidable total, aided by an explosive cameo from skipper Hardik Pandya.
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