Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Tuesday (May 23) booked a place in the IPL 2023 playoffs with a convincing 15-run victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 1 at Chepauk.
Asked to bat first, CSK posted 172/7 on the board with key contributions from opener Ruturaj Gaikwad (60 off 44) and Devon Conway (40 off 34).
In reply, GT’s innings folded for 157 in 20 overs. It was a disappointing display with the bat as no one managed to hit a half-century. Shubman Gill top scored with 38-ball 42.
Ravindra Jadeja (2-18), Maheesh Theekshana (2-28), Deepak Chahar (2-29) and Matheesha Pathirana (2-37) picked up two wickets each for CSK.
After the game, GT skipper Hardik Pandya said basic errors cost them the game while also adding that they had conceded 15 extra runs.
Hardik further stated that they don't need to reflect too much about the loss at the moment and would look to regroup ahead of Qualifier 2.
"I think we were quite spot-on (with the ball), but we made basic errors and that costed us the game. The kind of bowlers we had, I felt we conceded 15 extra runs. A lot of things we did right. We bowled a couple of soft balls in between. We were executing our plans and then in between we gave some runs. I don't think we need to look much into it. We have to play two days later, we have to play one more game to make sure we reach the final. Just focus on the things that we've done really well this season," said Hardik in the post-match presentation.
The Titans captain lauded his CSK counterpart’s leadership skills, citing that Dhoni does make you feel like he is adding 10 runs to the total with the use of his bowlers.
Hardik also congratulated Dhoni and said that he would like to face him in the final.
"That's the beauty about him (Dhoni), with his mind and the way he uses the bowlers, he'll make sure that you'll feel like he's adding 10 runs. We kept losing wickets, he kept changing the bowlers, credit to him. Happy for him, would be nice to meet him on Sunday. Regrets are not good in life. We expected dew would come, it didn't come. We didn't do right in both departments. We'll give a crack again after two days," he added.
Gujarat Titans will now face the winner of Eliminator between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2023 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Friday (May 26).
