It was supposed to be a fairytale ending for MS Dhoni in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season as the talismanic skipper of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) was sent to the pavilion almost immediately off the bowling on Mohit Sharma in the 13th over of the game.
Needing 22 needed off 14 balls to win their fifth title, MS Dhoni's entry into the field was expectedly met with a wall of noise, and many expected him to repeat the heroics of the 2011 ODI World Cup Fina, where he came on early and played a match-winning knock to give India the trophy from Sri Lanka's hands. This time however, it was not meant to be.
He was out caught at extra-cover off a Full delivery. Trying to loft the shot, he did not get the elevation he needed as the ball ended up in the safe hands of David Miller.
About the IPL 2023 GT vs CSK Final:
In the first innings, young and uncapped batter Sai Sudharsan led the charge as GT set CSK an imposing target of 215 in the IPL 2023 final. His innings finished at 96 runs off just 47 balls, at a strike rate of 204.25 with 8 fours and 6 sixes to his name. He failed to complete his century after being caught LBW by CSK pacer Matheesha Pathirana.
Sudharsan stepped up to the occasion after the early wicket of the in-form Shubman Gill, who is also the current Orange Cap holder as well. After the bright start that openers Wriddhiman Saha and Gill gave GT, hitting 62 runs in the Powerplay.
However, Ravindra Jadeja got the breakthrough in the seventh over with a brilliant stumping by MS Dhoni. He managed 39 off 20 balls, but his wicket gave way to Sudharsan, who came close to becoming just the third player to hit a century in an IPL final.
After a long rain interruption, the match restarted at 12:10 with a revised target of 171 in 15 overs. The side started on a roar with CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway making the most of the conditions. They set up an opening wicket partnership of 74 runs before Gaikwad was caught by Rashid Khan off Noor Ahmad's bowling, scoring 26 runs in 16 balls.
Conway was the main aggressor and managed 47 off 25 balls before Noor struck again as the New Zealander holed the ball straight to Mohit Sharma.
Then coming to the party was Shivam Dube (32* off 21) and Ajinkya Rahane (27 off 13). The duo had a very important partnership of 39 runs from 23 balls which took CSK closer to the target.
After Rahane's wicket, Ambati Rayudu (19 off 8) took over as MS Dhoni was caught out for a Golden Duck. Many thought it was game over for CSK but Sir Ravindra Jadeja (15 off 6) had other plans. He hit a six and a four in the final two balls of the match to seal Chennai Super Kings' fifth IPL trophy.
