With 10 runs needed off final two balls and Gujarat Titans' (GT) death overs speciallist Mohit Sharma bowling, CSK were not backed to win. Before smashing a six and a four to win guide Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a famous win, Ravindra Jadeja had scored just five runs from five balls. Jadeja bested Mohit to give Ambati Rayudu a fitting farewell as the latter won his sixth IPL title.
After the IPL title-winning shot, Jadeja sprinted towards the dugout where an ecstatic CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni lifted him. Jadeja may have won it for CSK, but the Saurashtra all-rounder was cheered by the home crowd.
“Feeling amazing winning fifth title in front of my home crowd. They've come in big numbers to support CSK. This crowd has been amazing. They were waiting for rain to stop till late night. Want to say big congratulations to CSK fans. Want to dedicate this win to one of the special members of our team - MS Dhoni,” Jadeja told commentator Simon Doull.
Jadeja shared that he backed himself to hit big shots against Mohit despite the tough task.
“I was just thinking that I need to swing hard no matter what. Yeah anything can happen. I was looking to hit straight because Mohit can bowl slower ones. Want to say congratulations to each and every fan of CSK. Just keep cheering the way you've been cheering,” the all-rounder added.
Before a six-ball 15, Jadeja took the important wicket of in-form Shubman Gill. Jadeja was introduced right after the powerplay overs and he lured Gill on the front foot. The ball spun away and beat Gill's bat. The GT opener dragged his back foot and Dhoni took the bails off in flash.
Jadeja turned out to be CSK's second-highest wicket-taker in the season. The left-arm spinner took 20 wickets from 16 games at a strike rate of 17.10. He conceded runs at an economy rate of 7.56 runs per over.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
After Sai Sudharsan's super show, Jonita Gandhi and Divine get fans off their feet during IPL 2023 final's mid-innings
Retired out in Qualifier 2, sensational Sai Sudharsan breaks Manish Pandey's record for highest score in IPL final by an uncapped batter
