Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: It’s not often that bowlers dominate in a format known for big hitting, but that’s exactly what happened at Chepauk on Sunday as Gujarat Titans outplayed Chennai Super Kings. On a pitch offering extra bounce, GT’s bowlers kept things tight 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.
GT pacer Mohammed Siraj set the tone early with his bounce and accuracy. Sanju Samson scored 11 and reached his 5000 IPL runs milestone but couldn’t convert his start. Kagiso Rabada also chipped in with key wickets as CSK batters struggled to adjust to the conditions.Sudharsan leads the chaseIn reply, GT chased down the target comfortably, thanks to a brilliant knock from Sai Sudharsan. He scored 87 off 46 balls, showing how to bat smartly on a tricky surface by picking the right balls to attack.He was well supported by skipper 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 early in 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 finish boosts GTCSK bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs, with only Noor Ahmad and Akeal Hosein picking up a wicket each. GT’s batters showed better understanding of the pitch, which made the difference.With this win, Gujarat Titans moved up the table and kept their campaign on track, while CSK were left to reflect on missed opportunities.
