NEW DELHI: Gujarat Titans (GT) displayed a disciplined bowling performance on a challenging pitch, effectively restricting the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a total of 172 for 7 in the Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Chennai on Tuesday.
After winning the toss, GT captain Hardik Pandya opted to field, and his decision paid off as the CSK batters struggled to score freely on the slow surface.
The charismatic skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni disappointed the passionate Chepauk crowd by lasting only two balls and contributing just one run to the team's total.
Among the CSK batters, Ruturaj Gaikwad stood out with an impressive innings of 60 off 44 deliveries, while the rest of the batting line-up failed to make significant contributions.
GT pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma were the standout bowlers, taking two wickets each. Additionally, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad also claimed a wicket each, exerting pressure on the CSK batters.
Gaikwad experienced a stroke of luck during his innings when he was caught by Shubman Gill off the bowling of Darshan Nalkande, but the delivery was deemed a no-ball.
Taking advantage of the reprieve, Gaikwad capitalised on the opportunity and displayed some superb shots. Immediately after the no-ball incident, he smashed a six and followed it up with a boundary on the next delivery.
Despite facing the challenge of spinners Rashid and Noor, who were key bowlers for GT, Gaikwad remained undeterred and continued to score freely against all the bowlers. He played a crucial role in getting the CSK off to a brisk start, with 49 runs being scored in the powerplay.
After outscoring his opening partner Devon Conway and forming yet another half-century partnership with him, Gaikwad seemed to slow down his scoring rate.
Ultimately, while attempting to accelerate the pace, he was caught by David Miller off the bowling of Mohit Sharma. Gaikwad's contribution was vital to CSK's batting performance, showcasing his form and ability to score runs consistently.
Ajinkya Rahane, batting at No. 4, contributed 17 runs off 10 deliveries, including a six, before becoming the only wicket taken by Darshan Nalkande. As the innings progressed, the scoring rate slowed down.
Conway, typically fluent with his batting, encountered difficulties with his timing throughout his innings.
Ambati Rayudu, in his brief cameo, scored 17 runs off 9 balls and reached the milestone of 6,000 runs in the IPL.
In the final three overs, the home team managed to collect 35 runs, showcasing their ability to accelerate towards the end of the innings.
