Chennai Super Kings (CSK) exhibited a clinical performance with both bat and ball to outclass Gujarat Titans (GT) by 63 runs in their fortress at Chepauk. CSK registered their second win of the season in a dominating fashion while GT suffered the biggest loss in terms of runs in the tournament’s history. Defending a huge 206, CSH pacers never allowed the GT batters to find their momentum or get into the rhythm. CSK pacers bowled exceptionally well, varying their length and pace to take regular wickets and eventually, restricted GT to 143/8.
Batting first, Rachin Ravindra gave CSK a fiery start, smashing GT pacers all over the park. The left-handed opener cleared the boundary ropes with ease and scored runs at a strike rate of 230. But Rachin was lucky as he missed out on a well-deserved half-century and departed after a superb knock of 20-ball 46. CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was given a chance by Sai Kishore in the very first over, used it to good effect and scored 46.
Shivam Dube started off his innings by hitting two huge sixes and continued to play some brilliant shots. He alongside Daryl Mitchell added 57 runs for the fourth wicket. Dube departed after playing a magnificent knock of 23-ball 51. Mitchell’s unbeaten 24 and Sameer Rizvi’s cameo of 14 powered CSK to 206/6 in 20 overs.
GT’s chase got a good start with Wriddhiman Saha blasting four 4s in no time. But Deepak Chahar brought CSK into the game by dismissing GT captain Shubman Gill (8) and Saha (21) in consecutive overs. Moments later, a change in the bowling worked well for CSK. Mitchell removed Shankar (12), thanks to Thala Dhoni for plucking out an excellent diving catch.
Things looked to get going for GT as Sai Sudharsan (37) and David Miller added 41 runs for the fourth wicket. However, Ajinkya Rahane took a brilliant front-diving catch to dismiss Miller (21) and that turned out to be the game-changing moment. GT batters struggled to find the boundary ropes, kept losing wickets, and eventually, lost the match.
