After waiting for over 24 hours, the final game of the TATA Indian Premier League 2023 finally started. Gujarat Titans walked into the Narendra Modi Stadium at Ahmedabad as the defending champions. Chennai Super Kings on the other hand were looking to win their 5th title and go level with Mumbai Indians as the leading winners of IPL.
The story as it happened –
MS Dhoni won the toss for Chennai Super Kings and put Gujarat Titans into bat. For the Chennai team this was the last time that Rayudu will be playing in the IPL. The 37 year old had already announced his decision to retire at the end of the season before the final. The focus was on MS Dhoni was playing his 250th game and perhaps walking out for the final time.
Chennai Super Kings sloppy show on the field –
MS Dhoni was really trying his best to hide his anger as the Chennai fielders were letting easy runs. The frustration came to the maximum during the final few overs of the 1st innings.
The ball was thrown to Matheesha Pathirana as he came round the wicket to Hardik Pandya and bowled it wide outside off stump. Pandya found it difficult to reach out and took a single. That’s when Deepak Chahar threw towards the non strikers end and allowed Pandya and Sudarshan to get back for a 2nd run.
Sai Sudarshan lights up the final with quickfire 96 –
Gujarat Titans found a new hero in the final and this time it was Sai Sudarshan the 21 year old from Tamil Nadu. The southpaw came back to haunt his home state as he scored 47 ball 96 in the final. In the game against Mumbai the left hander was asked to retire himself out as he failed to force the pace. Sudarshan’s knock 8 fours and 6 sixes as he went after the Chennai bowling to help Gujarat to reach 214 from their 20 overs.
Twitter reacts –
Cricket fans took to Twitter and weren’t pleased with what they saw on as far as Chennai’s fielding was concerned. You can read all the tweets from the fans below.
— matuka banana (@BananaMatu52586) May 29, 2023
I never was excited when Dhoni played, I was happy that he was there in the team leading his teammates, My expectations lowered with his increasing age
— faizan (@callitneo) May 29, 2023
#Dhoni Ab kaha gya wo logic?ke acha fielder single roke ga pressure bnae ga strick rotation nhi hongi
— Roy (@Roy84966203) May 29, 2023
Mtlb wo cheeze sehwag jaise matchwinner kre to bhar krdo ab ye kre to koi nhi apni sahulato ke hisab se team chalegi apni age zyda hue to old player apni age kam to young player
What would be running in Dhoni's mind today ?
— Mayon (@MayonTweets) May 29, 2023
Emotions rushing but the duty ahead to focus ❤️
It's there personal matter why they don't talk who knows what happened between them? Still dhoni bought many Malls for him which he is running in Ranchi and earning good money but you won't cover it cos it doesn't suits your agenda also the second part is on makers
— Mukulr5 (@RRmuk8649) May 29, 2023
If CSK Wins, Credit goes to Dhoni👏👏
— Sachin (@Bcmc_111) May 29, 2023
If CSK loses, Blame goes to other players 😭😭
And Tushar Deshpande takes that blame today 🤗
It's sad to see dhoni playing his last IPL FINAL.
— Sniper Saffron (@SnipersaffronIn) May 29, 2023
Dhoni's reaction time was just 0.1 Seconds during the stumping.
— Raj (@Raj__chautala) May 29, 2023
He will turn 42 years on July. #Dhoni #CSK #IPL2023Finals pic.twitter.com/2wLej4fpgb