In a nail-biting rain-affected final, star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja smashed a six and a four in the last two balls, propelling Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a 5-wicket victory (via DLS method) over Gujarat Titans. With this triumph, CSK clinched their record-equalling fifth Indian Premier League (IPL) title at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday night.
Led by the experienced M.S. Dhoni, CSK now shares the distinction of having won five IPL trophies, matching the feat achieved by the Mumbai Indians.
Gujarat Titans, batting first, displayed an exceptional performance, thanks to Sai Sudharsan's blazing knock of 96 off just 41 deliveries and Wriddhiman Saha's crucial half-century of 54 off 39 balls. Their contributions propelled the Titans to a formidable total of 214/4 in 20 overs. Sudharsan's innings was a masterclass in strokeplay, while Saha, Shubman Gill (39 off 20), and Hardik Pandya (21 off 12) also played vital roles with the bat.
In pursuit of the mammoth target, CSK got off to a solid start with openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway scoring four runs in the first three balls before rain interrupted play. After a lengthy delay due to a wet outfield, the revised target for CSK was set at 171 runs to chase in 15 overs.
Conway and Gaikwad resumed their innings with an aggressive approach, launching a flurry of boundaries against the opposition bowlers, including Md Shami, Hardik Pandya, and Rashid Khan. CSK raced to 52/0 in the four-over Powerplay.
Gujarat Titans desperately needed a breakthrough, and left-arm spinner Noor Ahmed provided it by dismissing Gaikwad (26 off 16). Ahmed continued to trouble CSK as he removed the dangerous Conway, putting CSK on the back foot.
With two new batsmen, Shivam Dube and Ajinkya Rahane, at the crease, the pressure was on CSK. However, Rahane showcased his class, playing exquisite strokes to inject momentum into CSK's innings. Although Dube struggled to find his timing, Rahane's fine touch guided CSK to 112/2 in 10 overs.
The match witnessed several twists and turns, leading to a thrilling climax where CSK needed 13 runs off the last over. Mohit Sharma executed superb yorkers, conceding only three runs in the first four balls. However, Jadeja had other plans, smashing a six and a four in the final two deliveries to seal a sensational victory for CSK, securing their fifth IPL title in the process.
Brief scores: Gujarat Titans 214/4 in 20 overs (Sai Sudharsan 96, Wriddhiman Saha 54; Matheesha Pathirana 2-44) Chennai Super Kings 171/5 in 15 overs (revised target) (Devon Conway 47, Ajinkya Rahane 27, Shivam Dube 32 not out, Ravindra Jadeja 15 not out; Mohit Sharma 3-36, Noor Ahmad 2-17) by five wickets.