NEWS
Follow UsChennai Super Kings recorded a five-wicket win against Gujarat Titans in a nail-biting thriller at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to clinch their fifth IPL title.
In pursuit of 171 runs in 15 overs as the game was curtailed due to relentless showers after Gujarat's first innings, Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad forged a 74-run stand for the opening wicket in less than seven overs to set the foundation for the side.
The former Kiwi skipper shared his views on the game and the strategies deployed by the Super Kings in the summit clash. "We deliberated hard about if we had to look up at the sky or down at the wicket, as the pitch was dry," he said in the post-match press conference.
"It was a tough day to get tactics right, as we thought there was going to be some showers around. We were a bit off the mark with our bowling and fielding, and I thought 215 was a pretty good score, and I thought halfway through the innings, the rain changed the momentum."
"We felt 171 on that pitch with 15 overs was pretty gettable, and the way the batters began was amazing. We were pretty shocked about the fielding, but the first four to six overs gave us the belief," he added.
The Head Coach of the side also praised Ravindra Jadeja for his heroics in the final as the southpaw smashed a six and a boundary off the penultimate delivery to guide the team over the line.
"His performance was a pretty good one today. It's probably been a difficult 18 months where the captaincy was difficult and the injury was difficult."
"It took a bit of time for him to be out of the game and come reinvigorated in the Test game and then reintegrate into CSK. He plays a great role with the ball. But we have so much firepower that sometimes we use him lower down the order. But something had to give."
"MS has been really supportive and proactive in getting him up there, and today he repaid that faith. The six, in particular, off a ball that was very close to perfect, was defining, and then a good left-hander straight drive through fine leg was a great way to finish it."
"I couldn't be more happy for him. Yeah, there has been some frustration at times, but he is a gun player. No.1 ranked player, and today he delivered," he added.
The 50-year-old also credited Ambati Rayudu on a successful IPL career as the right-handed batter bid adieu to the tournament with a quickfire 8-ball 19 that inched them towards their title.
"Ambati Rayudu has been an absolute legend. I rate him so highly as a batter, and that over today, three balls against Mohit Sharma, who is one of the most in-form death bowlers, the way Rayudu hit him for 6, 4, 6 was pure class."
"He will leave a hole, and there’s no doubt about it. But, the game keeps moving, and he’s identified that mentally and physically and even looking around the room that it’s time to go. We respected that."
"For him to go out like that was pretty emotional with the group and for him as well. I am really pleased for him," he concluded.
