Chennai Super Kings (CSK) players were filled with joy after their remarkable five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans via the DLS method in a rain-interrupted final. Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad dedicated the triumph to teammate Ambati Rayudu, who announced his retirement after this season.
The final, spanning three days and lasting just 35 overs, saw CSK chase a revised target of 171 in 15 overs after Gujarat Titans posted 214/4 in 20 overs, propelled by Sai Sudharsan's explosive 96 and a half-century by Wriddhiman Saha.
Reflecting on the victory, Gaikwad expressed the significance of this win, considering CSK's ninth-place finish among 10 teams in the previous season. He said, "This one was special because of how it went last year for us. To come back in style, win away games, win in Chepauk, and the finish was unbelievable. We would like to dedicate this win to Rayudu."
CSK found themselves in a tight spot, needing 20 runs from the last 11 deliveries. After a brilliant 19th over by Mohammad Shami, they required 13 runs from the final over. Mohit Sharma's exceptional bowling limited CSK to just three runs from the first four deliveries. However, Ravindra Jadeja's heroics, with a six and a four off the last two deliveries, sealed a dramatic victory for CSK in this thrilling encounter.
Pacer Deepak Chahar highlighted the unwavering belief of Rayudu, who had declared his final IPL season, saying, "Rayudu was telling us 'I'll win the final.' That belief that he has is unbelievable."
CSK faced a challenging situation when they lost Gaikwad (26) and Devon Conway (47) in quick succession. However, veteran Ajinkya Rahane's 27 off 13 balls and Ambati Rayudu's 19 off 8 balls propelled them towards victory, with Shivam Dube remaining unbeaten on 32 off 21 balls.
Rahane, who was doubted as a limited-overs batter before the start of IPL 2023, reinvented himself and played crucial innings throughout the season. He credited the CSK management for their unwavering support, stating, "Credit goes to CSK management for backing me. They said they would support me completely if I got an opportunity. The victory is really special. Great team man [referring to Rayudu]. The knock he played today was really special."
Rayudu, an experienced middle-order batter, expressed his delight at the fairytale ending to his career. The 37-year-old also equaled Rohit Sharma's record for winning the most IPL titles (six) as a player. He said, "It's a fairytale finish. I couldn't have asked for more. I'm fortunate to have played in really great sides. I can smile for the rest of my life. All the hard work I've done in the last 30 years, I'm happy I got to finish on this note. I would really like to thank my family, my father. Without them, this wouldn't have been possible."
On this special occasion, some of the CSK players dedicated the title to their captain, MS Dhoni. England all-rounder Moeen Ali expressed, "You're always learning from MS, how to deal with players and situations. It's a massive part of IPL, and that's why we've done so well."
Assistant coach Mike Hussey acknowledged Ravindra Jadeja's crucial contributions in securing the victory and praised Dhoni for being an amazing leader.