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Gujarat Titans (GT) rode on Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan's brilliant centuries to clinch a convincing 35-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to dend the defending champions' playoff hopes on May 10. Chasing a mammoth target of 232 runs set by the openers Shubman Gill (104 off 55) and Sai Sudharsan (103 off 51), CSK looked briefly in contention thanks to a valiant effort from Daryl Mitchell (63) and Moeen Ali (56). However, they faltered in the later stages, collapsing to 196/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
CSK's horrible start to mammoth run chase
CSK's chase got off to a disastrous start, losing their openers cheaply. Ajinkya Rahane and Rachin Ravindra were dismissed within the first two overs, leaving them reeling at 2/2. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad couldn't add to the score, falling prey to a sensational catch by Rashid Khan off Umesh Yadav to leave CSK reeling at 43/3
Daryl Mitchell provided a spark with a rapid half-century (50 runs off just 27 balls) by the 12th over, igniting hope for CSK. However, his dismissal by Mohit Sharma for 63 runs significantly dampened their spirits. Moeen Ali continued the fight, reaching his own fifty in a mere 31 deliveries, but Sharma struck again, dismissing him for 56 runs. With the required run rate climbing, Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja tried to accelerate the scoring, but the target remained daunting – 70 runs were still needed from the last four overs. Mohit Sharma's impressive spell continued as he picked up Dube's wicket for 21 runs in the 17th over. Rashid Khan then delivered a double blow, dismissing both Jadeja and Mitchell Santner in the same over, leaving CSK stranded at 196/8. MS Dhoni too dazzled with a late blitz of 11-ball 26 but to only see his side going down by 35 runs.
Mohit Sharma was the pick of the bowlers for GT, claiming three wickets. With this loss, CSK's playoff aspirations take a significant hit, while Gujarat Titans are mathematically still in the contention. CSK, however, remain unaffected as they still grab the fourth spot in the IPL 2024's points table. Meanwhile, GT rose from bottom place to eighth spot.
Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan's record partnership spur GT's big total
Earlier, in a dominant display of batting power, the GT openers, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, unleashed a flurry of boundaries and sixes against the Chennai Super Kings. Both batsmen reached magnificent centuries, propelling their team to a formidable total of 231 runs for just 3 wickets in the Indian Premier League match.
Gill and Sudharsan built a mammoth 210-run partnership, the highest for any wicket in the IPL this season. This feat even matched the record held by Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul for the highest opening partnership in IPL history. Gill's knock of 104 runs came off a mere 55 deliveries, laced with 9 fours and 6 sixes. Sudharsan, playing his first match as an opener, contributed a blistering 103 runs off 51 balls, including 5 boundaries and a staggering 7 sixes.
Electing to bat first, Gill wasted no time in setting the tone for the innings. He dispatched the very first boundary off Mitchell Santner and followed it up with a towering six over mid-on. His elegant strokeplay continued throughout the innings, exemplified by a effortless six over long-on in the sixth over.
Sudharsan, starting cautiously, quickly found his rhythm. He reached his fifty off just 32 balls with a powerful slog sweep against the experienced Ravindra Jadeja. Shortly after, Gill also reached his half-century with a top-edged shot that sailed over the boundary rope.
The CSK bowling attack, with the exception of the economical Shardul Thakur (0/25), struggled to contain the onslaught. Dropped catches and misfields compounded their woes. Tushar Deshpande, in particular, misjudged a chance to dismiss Gill at 72, leading to a costly six and additional runs leaked in the over.
Gill soon notched up his fourth IPL century with a boundary off a Simarjeet full toss, becoming the youngest player to achieve this feat. This was also the 100th century scored in IPL history. Not to be outdone, Sudharsan followed suit just a few overs later, bringing up his maiden IPL hundred in style with a towering six. Despite a late fightback from CSK bowlers who restricted the run flow in the final five overs, the damage had already been done. Deshpande managed to grab the wickets of both centurions, but Gujarat Titans had already steered GT to a colossal total by then.
GT will next face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on May 13, while CSK will take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) on May 12.
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