Chennai Super Kings advance to IPL final with victory over Gujarat Titans

CSK successfully defended 173, with the bowling attack, led by Ravindra Jadeja's miserly figures of 2 for 18, stifling the Titans' big hitters

Chennai: Chennai Super Kings 172-7, Gujarat Titans 157 – Chennai Super Kings won by 15 runs

Chennai Super Kings booked their place in the 2023 IPL final after completing an 15-run victory over defending champions Gujarat Titans.

The Super Kings, who are through their 10th IPL final, are searching for a record-equalling fifth title and their second crown in three years.

The Titans will face either Lucknow Super Giants or Mumbai Indians on May 26 to decide the second finalist.

Batting first, the Super Kings made a steady start, with Ruturaj Gaikwad (60 off 44) and Devon Conway (40 off 34) sharing an 87-run opening stand.

Mohit Sharma made the breakthrough for the Titans in the 11th over, removing Gaikwad, and the opener was quickly followed back to the dressing room by Shivam Dube.

^{Ruturaj Gaikwad scored yet another half-century at the top of the order for CSK [Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images]}

^{Ravindra Jadeja impressed with 2 for 18 [Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images]}

A 31-run partnership between Conway and Ajinkya Rahane kept the scoreboard ticking over before both players fell in consecutive overs to leave CSK 125 for 4 in the 16th over.

However, a late flurry from Ambati Rayudu (17 off 9), Ravindra Jadeja (22 off 16) and Moeen Ali (9 not out off 4) ensured they passed 170, posting what would prove to be a match-winning total of 172 for 7.

Sharma (2 for 31) and Mohammed Shami (2 for 28) were the pick of the Titans bowlers.

In reply, CSK's bowlers, led by Jadeja's miserly figures of 2 for 18, did a fine job of stifling Gujarat Titans' big hitters.

The Titans lost Wriddhiman Saha (12 off 11) and captain Hardik Pandya (8 off 7) inside the powerplay before a flurry of wickets saw them collapse from 72 for 2 to 98 for 6, with dangerous duo Shubman Gill (42 off 38) and David Miller both back in the shed.

A 38-run seventh-wicket stand off just 18 balls between Rashid Khan – who struck 30 runs off 16 balls - and Vijay Shankar threatened to set up a nervy finish, but when Matheesha Pathirana struck in the 18th over to remove Shankar, it knocked the wind out of Gujarat Titans' sails and they were all out for 157 off the final delivery of the match.

Pathirana finished with 2 for 37 with Deepak Chahar (2 for 29), Maheesh Theekshana (2 for 28) and Tushar Deshpande (1 for 43) sharing the remaining wickets.