Gaikwad’s half-century, Superkings gave Gujarat a target of 179 runs
Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad’s half-century helped Chennai Super Kings score 178 for seven against defending champions Gujarat Titans in the first match of the Indian Premier League 2023 on Friday. Gaikwad hit nine sixes and four fours in his 50-ball 92 but apart from him, only Moeen Ali (23) could cross the 20-run mark. For Gujarat, leg-spinner Rashid Khan took 26, Mohammed Shami took 29 while Alzarri Joseph took two wickets for 33 runs.
Gujarat captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and decided to bowl and Mohammed Shami bowled Devon Conway (01) in the third over itself. Gaikwad looked in good touch from the start. After hitting Pandya for two fours, he welcomed left-arm fast bowler Josh Little with fours and sixes in consecutive balls. Moin Ali also hit two fours and a six in Shami’s over. Moin (23) took the team’s score to 50 runs in the sixth over with a four off Rashid Khan but was caught by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha on the next ball.
In the next over, Rashid also caught Ben Stokes (07) by the hands of Saha to score Superkings 70 for three. Gaikwad hit Pandya for two consecutive sixes and then Alzarri Joseph with three sixes to complete his half-century in just 23 balls. Gaikwad completed the team’s hundred in the 11th over with a six over Little. Ambati Rayudu (12) edged Yash Dayal into the onlookers but was bowled by Little to claim his maiden IPL wicket.
Shivam Dubey was completely out of touch and the team took the brunt of his slow batting by losing the wicket of Gaikwad, who was caught by Shubman Gill on Joseph’s full toss. He hit nine sixes and four fours in his 50-ball innings. Ravindra Jadeja (01) also caught Vijay Shankar at the boundary in the same over. Dubey (19) hit Shami for a six but waved the next ball in the air and caught Rashid. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (14 not out in seven balls) brought the score close to 180 runs by hitting sixes and fours in consecutive balls of Little in the last over.
