Sai Sudarshan sparkling knock of 96 went in vain as Chennai Super Kings beat Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in a rain-affected IPL 2023 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
After being asked to bat first by Chennai Super Kings, Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha got Gujarat Titans off to a solid start. The pair added 67 runs for the opening stand.
Gill got a reprieve on 3, when Deepak Chahar dropped a sitter off Tushar Deshpande at square leg. However Ravindra Jadeja broke the stand by dismissing the dangerous Gill stumped by a lightning quick MS Dhoni for a 20 ball-39.
Saha featured in yet another second wicket stand of 64 runs along side Sai Sudarshan before the former perished to Deepak Chahar for a well made 54.
Sudarshan then launched Pathirana for successive sixes before being trapped leg before wicket for a magnificent 96. His knock came off 47 balls with 8 fours and 6 sixes.
At the other end, skipper Hardik Pandya remained unbeaten on 21 as Gujarat Titans finished at 214/4 in their 20 overs.
Following a rain delay, Chennai Super Kings were given a revised target of 171 in 15 overs.
The duo of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Conway got Super Kings off to a solid start. The pair put on 74 runs for the opening wicket before left-arm wrist-spinner Noor Ahmad dismissed both openers in the seventh over.
Shivam Dube along with Ajinkya Rahane put on 39 runs for the third wicket stand before the latter was dismissed by Mohit Sharma for 27.
Ambati Rayudu playing his last IPL match clobbered Mohit for two sixes and a four before falling off the very next delivery for a 8 ball-19.
MS Dhoni in his 250th match, fell for a golden duck. With 13 needed off the final over, Mohit Sharma bowled 4 good deliveries to leave Chennai needing 10 off the final 2 balls.
However all rounder Jadeja held his nerve by scoring a six and boundary to give Chennai a famous win. With this victory Chennai won their fifth title, equalling the record held by Mumbai Indians.
Chennai Super Kings 171 for 5 in 15 overs (Conway 47, Dube 32*, Mohit 3-36) beat Gujarat Titans 214 for 4 (Sudharsan 96, Saha 54) by five wickets via DLS method