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Gujarat Titans’ collective might help them record five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings
It looked like an extension of the last season as the defending champion Gujarat Titans’ once again relied on their collective might as they began their title defence with a five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
At the majestic Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad, Rashid Khan starred in an all-round display while opener Shubman Gill appears to have carried on his rich international form as the Titans overcame Ruturaj Gaikwad’s brilliance as CSK paid the price for losing their way in the middle overs.
Gaikwad, returning to IPL action after recovering from a wrist injury, looked to be in sublime form as he slammed four fours and nine sixes in his 50-ball 92.
Though they kept losing wickets at regular intervals, CSK still looked in command as they reached 121 for four in 12.5 overs. It was at this moment that four-time former champion CSK lost the plot.
Gaikwad, who was looking good with his half-ton, then perished while trying to hit Alzarri Joseph’s full toss out of the ground – only to be held out too long on.
It was a remarkable turnaround for the West Indian, who conceded 18 runs in his first over. The fast bowler ended up giving away 15 runs in his next three overs while picking up the wickets of dangerman Ravindra Jadeja along with Gaikwad.
Shivam Dube, the all-rounder, became CSK’s Achilles Heel as he found the going tough against the short of the good length deliveries from Joseph and Titans’ skipper Hardik Pandya.
With just one six in his 18-ball 19, Dube’s inability to pace the innings cost CSK dear. “We were slightly short,” CSK skipper MS Dhoni, who provided some late flurry with an unbeaten 7-ball 14, said after the match.
“Another 15 to 20 runs would have been good. We could have batted properly in the middle overs as opposed to trying to muscle the ball,” he said.
Chasing 179 to win, Wriddhiman Saha, among all people, came out all guns blazing with a cameo of 16-ball 25, but it was his young opening partner, Shubman Gill, who laid down the template.
Gill top-scored for the Titans with a 36-ball 63, which saw six fours and three sixes, as he added 53 runs for the second wicket with Sai Sudarshan, the Impact Player for the Titans.
Earlier, Tushar Deshpande became the first Impact Player in the IPL when he came in for Ambati Rayudu during CSK’s defence. He found some swing early and picked the prized wicket of Gill, but could not defend seven in the final over.
Despite the loss, CSK will take heart from IPL debutant Rajvardhan Hangargekar, whose variations at the death gave them a glimmer of hope. The India U-19 winner also picked up three wickets – Saha, Sudarshan and Vijay Shankar.
BRIEF SCORE: Gujarat Titans 182/5 (Shubman Gill 63; Rajvardhan Hangargekar 3/36) beat CSK 178/7 (Ruturaj Gaikwad 92; Rashid Khan 2/26, Md Shami 2/29) by five wickets
