Team Gujarat Titans (GT) beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by five wickets in CSK vs GT match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. The match was organized at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and was held after a successful opening ceremony.
CSK was asked to bat first as they lost the toss and the put a target of 178/7. Ruturaj Gaikwad scored the most out of them with 92 runs off 50 balls. Shubman Gill with a 63 off 36 score set up Gujarat’s chase foundation before the sixth-wicket.
With two overs left Gujarat needed 23 runs, Rashid slammed his first ball from Deepak Chahar over the midwicket for a 6. The next ball then went for a four as Rashid smashed it. Tewatia also smashed Tushar Deshpande for a six and a four too off consecutive balls to take Gujarat past the finish line.
Chasing a target of 179, Gujrat Titans gave a blazing start, further racing to 65/1 at the end of their powerplay. Deshpande became the first Impact Player in the IPL and replaced Ambati Rayudu. This opener from GT perished 25 runs off 16 balls, with miscuing Rajvardhan Hangargekar also to deep third man.
Gill continued his impressive and effective form and reached his half-century. Gill and Sai Sudharsan, later came in as the Impact Player for replacement of injured Kane Williamson, also added 53 for the second wicket. He was dismissed for a short ball from Hangargekar to Dhoni.
In the next over, Shubhman was struck by Ravindra Jadeja for a four and a six off consecutive balls. But Shubhman soon reached his half-century.
Ravindra Jadeja kept Chennai in the match by cleaning up Hardik Pandya at 8. Gill’s fine batting ended when he toe-ended a pull off from Deshpande to the deep midwicket.
Vijay Shankar gave 27 runs off 21 balls before Rashid and Tewatia provided the final boost to GT.
1. Ruturaj Gaikwad hits second-fastest half century for CSK as an opener in CSK vs GT match
Opener for CSK, Ruturaj Gaikwad was in excellent form in the opening match of 2023 IPL season against team Gujarat Titans. This right-handed batsman struck nine sixes along with four boundaries for his 92-run score in 50 balls.
During the process, Gaikwad also registered a 50 run score off 23 balls, which is also the second-fastest by any CSK opener. He is registered below Matthew Hayden and Dwayne Smith, who have reached this landmark in just 22 deliveries.
2. MS Dhoni became the oldest wicketkeeper to play IPL
MS Dhoni became the oldest player to act as a wicketkeeper in the history of the tournament. He was 41 years and 267 days old on the day of CSK vs GT match on Friday.
The legendary cricketer took over former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, who played his last game as wicketkeeper at the age of 41 years and 185 days. Wriddhiman Saha is the third oldest wicketkeeper to play at 38 years and 158 days of age.
3. MS Dhoni also becomes the first player from CSK to hit 200 sixes
MS Dhoni came late to the ground but boosted CSK’s innings as soon as he came. He scored an unbeaten 14 run score off seven deliveries, including a boundary and a six too. Dhoni became the first player to strike 200 sixes for his team CSK.
Some other players, including Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and AB de Villiers, have also reached this number 200 sixes for a single IPL team. Moreover, Gayle, Kohli, and de Villiers achieved this for RCB whereas Rohit registered this number for MI.
Player of the Match in CSK vs GT IPL 2023?
Gaikwad played brilliantly for Chennai Super Kings in the first inning with the bat. Rajwardhan impressed with the balling in the second half, claiming 3/36.
For Gujarat Titans, pacers like Shami and Joseph claimed two wickets each along with Rashid who also took two wickets and showcased his sizzling cameo as well. Gill laid a strong foundation while chasing with an another impressive knock.
Hence, Rashid was given the title of the Player of the Match for his all-rounding excellence.
SQUAD OF CHENNAI SUPER KINGS
Ben Stokes, Deepak Chahar, MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Mitchell Santner, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Prashant Solanki, Akash Singh, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Kyle Jamieson, Maheesh Theekshana, Nishant Sindhu, Dwaine Pretorius, Ajay Mandal, Subhranshu Senapati, Simarjeet Singh, Matheesha Pathirana, Bhagath Varma, Ravindra Jadeja, Shaik Rasheed and Tushar Deshpande
SQUAD OF GUJARAT TITANS
Hardik Pandya (captain), Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Matthew Wade (wicketkeeper), KS Bharat (wicketkeeper), Urvil Patel (wicketkeeper), Kane Williamson, Shubman Gill, David Miller, Odean Smith, Abhinav Manohar, B Sai Sudharsan, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Jayant Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Vijay Shankar, Mohammed Shami, Alzarri Joseph, Josh Little, Darshan Nalkande, Pradeep Sangwan, Shivam Mavi, Yash Dayal, Noor Ahmad and R Sai Kishore
ALSO READ: https://sportsintell.com/ipl-2023-opening-ceremony/
 beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by five wickets in CSK vs GT match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.){kind=link}