Gujarat soon reached 200 runs with the loss of just two wickets.
Chennai Super Kings won a thrilling IPL final against Gujarat Titans in a match that was delayed several times due to rain.
The final took place a day later due to rain.
Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha took to the crease first for the Gujarat Titans after Chennai Super Kings elected to bowl first.
Gujarat began steadily, scoring four runs at the end of the first over.
Gujarat avoided a scare when Gill flicked a shot straight to Deepak Chahar but he was unable to latch onto it.
It proved to be costly as the Titans continued to score runs, ending at 24-0 after three overs.
Chahar missed another chance as the Titans looked to successfully retain the IPL title.
Saha showed why he was key for Gujarat’s start in the final as he continued to score runs.
Chahar looked to be having a nightmare as he dropped another chance, leaving Gujarat to swiftly reach 62-0.
But in the seventh over, Gujarat lost Gill when he missed a shot while stretching too far outside the crease, leaving MS Dhoni to quickly stump out his opponent.
The mush-needed wicket resulted in an inevitable fall in the run rate.
Saha continued with excellent shotmaking and Gujarat Titans reached 86-1 at the halfway stage.
As the prospect of rain loomed over the Narendra Modi Stadium, Gujarat reached 124 runs before Saha was eventually dismissed.
Skipper Hardik Pandya entered the fray and steadily scored runs.
Meanwhile, Sai Sudharsan was firing on all cylinders, hitting some massive shots. However, Chennai’s poor showing on the field has contributed to it, with Chahar making another mistake.
Gujarat soon reached 200 runs with the loss of just two wickets.
Sudharsan was eventually dismissed via lbw four runs off 100.
Rashid Khan came in and was quickly caught out after his second ball.
Despite two quick wickets, Gujarat Titans remained composed and finished their innings on 214-4, the most any team has scored in an IPL final.
Chennai Super Kings’ innings were briefly interrupted by rain before Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway walked out to bat.
Gaikwad opened the scoring for Chennai before it started pouring and the covers returned.
After a lengthy break, the match resumed with a revised target of 171 runs in 15 overs.
Conway came up with some massive hits, taking Chennai to 35-0 after three overs.
Chennai’s pursuit of the IPL title continued, with Gaikwad and Conway’s partnership bringing up 58 runs after five overs.
Run scoring continued until the sixth over when Noor Ahmad’s ball to Gaikwad led to it being caught by Rashid Khan.
The wicket loss seemed to throw Chennai off their rhythm as Conway was soon dismissed for 47 runs, putting Gujarat Titans back in the driving seat.
Dhoni’s side reached 100 runs at the ninth over, setting the contest up for a thrilling finish.
At the 10th over, Chennai were 112-2. But shortly after, Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed after Mohit Sharma took the pace off his ball.
Now favourites to win the final, Chennai needed 38 runs from 18 balls at a rate of 12.66 runs per over.
In his last match for CSK, Ambati Rayudu was putting on an inspired performance, hitting a six and a four and another six.
But it proved to be one big shot too many as his shot went straight back to the bowler, bringing his IPL career to an end.
Dhoni walked in but it was shortlived as he is dismissed in his first ball.
Going into the final two overs, CSK needed 22 runs and despite the two quick wicket losses, it was their title to lose.
Sharma’s sublime bowling left CSK struggling to get runs, leaving them to require 10 from two balls.
But Ravindra Jadeja smashed a six before hitting a four to win the IPL.
The win means Chennai Super Kings have equalled Mumbai Indians’ record for most IPL titles, with five.
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