NEW DELHI: It’s not often that bowlers dominate in a format known for big hits, but that’s exactly what happened in Chepauk on Sunday as Gujarat Titans outplayed Chennai Super Kings. On a pitch offering extra bounce, the GT bowlers held firm and restricted CSK to 158/7.Batting first, CSK never really got going. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad played a fighting knock, remaining unbeaten on 74 off 60 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes. However, he lacked strong support from the other end.
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“We didn’t play good cricket” – Mahela Jayawardene after MI’s biggest IPL loss vs CSKGT pacer Mohammed Siraj set the tone early with his bounce and accuracy. Sanju Samson scored 11 to reach his milestone of 5000 IPL runs but failed to convert his start. Kagiso Rabada also chipped in with key wickets as the CSK batsmen struggled to adjust to the conditions.Sudharsan leads the chaseIn reply, GT comfortably chased down the target thanks to a brilliant knock from Sai Sudharsan. He scored 87 off 46 balls and showed how to bat smartly on a tricky surface by choosing the right balls to attack.He was well supported by captain Shubman Gill who made 33 off 23 balls. The duo added 58 runs for the first wicket, giving GT a strong start and putting CSK under pressure at the start of the chase.After Gill’s dismissal, Sudharsan continued to dominate, hitting seven sixes and keeping the scoreboard moving. Jos Buttler then finished the job with an unbeaten 39 as GT reached the target with 20 balls to spare.Clinical adjustment increases GTThe CSK bowlers struggled to keep the flow of runs going with only Noor Ahmad and Akeal Hosein getting wickets. The GT batsmen showed a better understanding of the pitch which made the difference.The win saw Gujarat Titans move up the table and keep their campaign on track, while CSK were left to reflect on missed opportunities.
