Rabada and Sudharsan crush CSK
CSK got off to the worst possible start and couldn't challenge GT despite Gaikwad batting through the innings
CSK got off to the worst possible start and couldn't challenge GT despite Gaikwad batting through the innings
Scorer: Sudeep Poojar | Commentator: Ashish Pant
Righto, with that Gujarat Titans move to fifth on the points table and CSK have dropped down to sixth. If you missed any of the action, Alagappan's report has you covered. We're not done yet, though. The LSG-KKR clash is in full flow with the LSG bowlers starting well. So hop onto the other tab to follow Shashwat on comms there. Till, then this is me Ashish Pant, signing off on behalf of Ekanth, Sudeep and Thilak. Ciao!
Kagiso Rabada is the player of the match: I actually didn't feel I started pretty well. That's how cricket goes. I am glad to play a part to take the team acroos the line. We needed the two points. [Is it clicking?] 100% yeah, it is and it's just about maintaining that and staying ahead of the game. So yeah, simply to answer that, it's clicking. How do you stay ahead of the game?] I guess it's just not taking anything for granted. Sticking with your process and always looking to improve. The day that you stop looking to improve is the day that you retire. [Combination with Mohamed Siraj and the other seamers] Yeah, a lot of fast bowlers, that's been a clear tactic of Gujarat over the years, playing at Ahmedabad. So it's nice to see the fast bowlers union coming together and yeah, it's been working thus far. I think we've been taking a lot of wickets, but at the same time, we need to find ways to contain too. So it's been a really, really lovely journey I guess that we've had so far.
GT captain, Shubman Gill: [On the win] Very happy. To get a win like that in this part of India, I am very happy. Apart from the last four or five overs, it was a complete performance. [Toss] I was a little confused whether to bowl or bat but we bowled well in the powerplay. If I have to be critical, finishing an innings has been a problem. [On Rashid bowling one over] There was confusion in the middle, when Dube came in, I thought should we bowl Washy, but the game was in our hand. He [Suthar] bowled a decent last over, gave 12 or 13. Pretty good effort from us. [On Sai Sudharsan] He is batting brilliantly. It [form] was always with him. All about spending the time in the crease
Presentation time
B Sai Sudharsan: Feels very grateful. Very happy, not a lot of words at the moment, I was overwhelmed. [On his innings] Just getting the confidence from the last innings, keeping this innings as fresh as possible. I just wanted to take the confidence from the last innings to this innings. [Pitch in second innings] I felt it slightly got better but first six overs, it was tough. Shubi [Shubman Gill] played an extraordinary cameo. [Playing late] When I am hitting the ball well, then I play late. [Plans tonight] Will go to my favourite tea shop and spend some time there with bun maska and chai
CSK captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad: [First innings where CSK lost] Sometimes I hate to assess, it this way but it was challenging in the first innings. It was holding for the medium pacers and the bounce was up and down. We lost too many wickets but it was difficult to play some shots. [Pitch] Not expected. It is hard to assess how it plays. This game we didn't have any idea. By the time, we wanted to adapt it was too late. At the first timeout, when Flem came out I told him, I am trying to attack but it was tough. There was more bounce, or less bounce, and I told him I am trying to change. It just did not come good. It was just an off day and even on the field we were lethargic. [His innings] I got off to a really good start, and then I thought to keep up the momentum. But after the wickets fell, I though to build a partnership. I then just wanted to take my time and rotate the strike. Any other pitch, any other day, I would have rotated the strike. Once I got hit, I just thought let's keep going. [Team tactics] We were batting well, so once we cross the powerplay, we thought let's get a bowler in, Mukesh was supposed to come in. But we lost wickets and had to bring Sarfaraz in.
7.10pm Chennai boy Sai Sudharsan has continued his stellar run to down CSK at home, giving GT an important win. A target of 159 was going to be tricky on a two-paced Chennai surface but local boy BSS and Shubman Gill for GT off to a quick start. Even when Gill fell, BSS did not lose focus. He struck 87 off 46 balls, his innings laced with seven sixes and four fours. Buttler also played his part as GT got over the line comfortably.
Here's Washington Sundar
B Sai Sudharsan c Brevis b Hosein 87 (88m 46b 4x4 7x6) SR: 189.13
Last over of the chase? GT need 5 runs in 24 balls.
Joint most sixes for Sai Sudharsan, had hit 7 vs CSK in 2024.
Jainendra: "I know people are comparing Gaikwad innings with GT batters and some criticism should definitely go to him for playing those many dot balls. But just look at other batters of CSK in first 10, the conditions were significantly tougher."
Arun Prakash: "MI beat GT, CSK beat MI, now GT beat MI. Nice triangular series between these three! "
The South Africa quick picked up 3 for 25 against CSK on Sunday
A searing powerplay spell on a bouncy Chennai pitch decided the contest long before it ended
The CSK head coach said that Dhoni pushed himself in a pre-season practice game and tweaked his already injured calf
CSK were reduced to 37 for 4 batting first, before GT comfortably chased down the 159 target
CSK got off to the worst possible start and couldn't challenge GT despite Gaikwad batting through the innings