An epic IPL final saw MS Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings against last season's champions, the Gujarat Titans in a mouthwatering replay of the match that kicked off this spectacular league. And what a final it was, a nail-biting thriller, with Ravindra Jadeja's last ball heroics earning Thala and the Yellow Army clinch a record equalling fifth IPL title, and life another well-deserved trophy under MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming's outstanding leadership.
Gujarat Titans were sent in to bat first and started off watchful but confidently with star batsman Shubman Gill and the experienced Wriddhiman Saha putting up an impressive 67 run opening partnership. It required an unbelievable piece of skill by the quickest hands in the business to halt Gill's charge, with MS Dhoni's blistering, ageless skill stumping the Indian batsman.
Saha, one of the most underrated players in this tournament scored a fine half-century, backed up by a quickfire knock from skipper Hardik Pandya but Sai Sudharsan's sensational innings carried Gujarat to a dominating total of 214 runs. A knock for the history books from the extremely talented Sai Sudharsan saw him play a majestic 96 off just 47 balls in perhaps one of the finest innings in IPL final history.
While the credit for a formidable total must be heralded to the Gujarat batsman, the CSK bowling attack failed to make breakthroughs with regularity and showed their inexperience with a lacklustre bowling performance. With 215 required, the odds were stacked against the Super Kings from the outset, with the dangerous duo of Mohammad Shami and Rashid Khan to contend with.
However, a downpour and a drawn-out delay decided the target as 171 in 15 overs. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway, one of the outstanding opening partnerships this season began with intent and class, putting up a strong 74 run opening partnership in the 6th over. When CSK lost their openers, like Gujarat, but perhaps even more, MS Dhoni has relied on quickfire knocks throughout the middle order all season, and once again the CSK middle order delivered runs at outstanding strike rates, going after the GT bowlers with the exception of the remarkable three overs from Noor Ahmad.
The left-handed power of Shivam Dube allowed CSK to target Rashid Khan, while Ajinkya Rahane continued his remarkable season with a handy 27 off just 13 balls, never relieving the pressure on the Gujarat bowling attack. Playing his last game of a terrific IPL career, Ambati Rayudu's final contribution of 19 off just 8 balls was crucial, but when MS Dhoni walked into the middle to a roaring sea of yellow, the 'magical' ending was all but scripted. A Dhoni golden duck and a third wicket for Mohit Sharma turned the tide, silencing the crowd yet all credit must go to Ravindra Jadeja's composure and class, whose match-winning and title-winning flurried finish to the innings sent Chennai into a frenzy late into the night.
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