Chennai Super Kings clinch fifth IPL title as Gujarat Titans are denied in dramatic final

The defending champions were within touching distance of back-to-back titles in a rain-affected reduced game on the first ever reserve day used to decide an IPL final in Ahmedabad, before Ravindra Jadeja had other ideas

The Cricketer | 29/05/2023 at 21:41

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Titans 214-4, Chennai Super Kings 171-5 - Chennai Super Kings win by five wickets (DLS)

Ravindra Jadeja produced a heroic batting display at the death as Chennai Super Kings whipped a record-equalling fifth Indian Premier League from the noses of defending champions Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.

With 10 required for victory from the final two deliveries, the India allrounder struck a six and a four to spark sheer delirium at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Titans put together a formidable 214 for 4 batting first with Sai Sudharsan hitting 96 from 47 balls, before heavy rain fell, 24 hours on from the original date of the final.

The lengthy stoppage meant a reduced chase for CSK, who now needed 171 from 15 overs to deny Titans back-to-back titles.

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^{CSK are champions for a fifth time (Sajjad Hussain/AFP via Getty Images)}

They reached 74 without loss in the seventh over, but the dismissals of Rutaraj Gaikwad (26), New Zealand opener Devon Conway (47) and Ajinkya Rahane (27) – all of whom raced to their scores to keep Chennai up with the revised required rate – set up a grandstand finish.

Ambati Rayudu, playing in his final IPL game, smashed two sixes in an eight-ball cameo, before MS Dhoni – in what could be the last match of his storied career – fell first ball when the script was written for him.

But he would still lift the trophy after Jadeja's late, late show, finishing the game and the tournament by whipping a full toss through short fine leg for four.