In the final match of the recently concluded 16th season of the Indian Premier League, the Chennai Super Kings emerged victorious by 5 wickets against the Gujarat Titans. This win, led by Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, marks their third title triumph in six seasons, putting them on par with the Mumbai Indians who have also won six IPL trophies.
Due to adverse weather conditions on the reserve day, the start of the second innings was delayed by approximately two hours, altering the dynamics for the visiting team. The Super Kings had to chase down a target of 171 runs in just 15 overs. Their pursuit was bolstered by a remarkable 74-run opening partnership between Ruturaj Gaikwad (26) and Devon Conway (47) achieved in just 39 balls.
Maintaining a required run rate of over 11 runs per over, the Super Kings knew they had to take risks and were prone to losing wickets. Despite encountering difficulties in the middle overs, Chennai managed to overcome the challenges.
In this crucial moment, former captain Ravindra Jadeja (1/38 & 15*) once again emerged as a hero. Displaying his potential, he struck a six and a four on the last two balls of the match, standing tall when all-rounder Shivam Dube (32*) struggled to time his big shots accurately.
M.O.O.D! 🤗
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 29, 2023
Ravindra Jadeja 🤝 MS Dhoni#TATAIPL | #Final | #CSKvGT | @imjadeja | @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/uggbDA4sFd
Apart from Jadeja and Dube, senior batsmen Ajinkya Rahane (27) and Ambati Rayudu (19) also played impactful cameos, contributing to the team’s victory. It was a special win for Rayudu, as it marked his last IPL match at the Narendra Modi Stadium, which was originally scheduled to begin on Sunday but eventually concluded on a Tuesday.