From Agencies
Ahmedabad, May 30, 2023
Black Caps batter Devon Conway played a leading hand and Ravindra Jadeja finished in MS Dhoni style hitting a six and a four off the last 2 balls to take Chennai Super Kings to their 5th Indian Premier League title in a rain-curtailed match on Monday (May 29, 2023) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
The match went down to the last ball with Stephen-Fleming coached Chennai scoring a boundary off the final delivery to beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final in Ahmedabad last night.
“It is a real caravan of Cricket, and it comes down to the last two balls, and you are just sitting and watching. You age quickly when that happens,” Fleming told Sky Sport.
He said that his side was short in bowling to start, and Deshpande stepped up.
“Pathirana gave us a sting in the tail in the end overs,” he said.
Batting first, the Titans posted 214 for five in their 20 overs but rain reduced the Super Kings’ innings to 15 overs and a revised total of 171 to win under the Duckworth-Lewis Stern System.
Conway in form
Sai Sudharsan’s 96 helped put the Titans in a commanding position before rain led to a lengthy delay before the Super Kings’ innings was reduced to 15 overs. That meant they needed 171 to win, which they achieved on the final ball to settle a thrilling encounter.
Opening the batting Conway continued the good form he has shown in the competition top scoring for Chennai with 47 off 25 balls.
“I was thinking positive, swing for the hills. It has been great batting alongside Rutu, such a clean hitter of the ball. Our partnership has worked really well, a left-right combination, and we enjoy our time together. I think this environment is really good. We have some top players, and I have had the opportunity to speak to them about batting and learn so much,” he told Sky Sport.
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The following is from ESPN Cricinfo (Twitter):
Ambati Rayudu, who was retiring after the final: “Yes, it was a fairy-tale finish. I could not have asked for more. I am fortunate to have played in great sides and this is one of the sides. [On the importance of this, his final game] I can smile for the rest of my life. All the hard work for the last 30 years. I am happy that it finished on this night. I thank my family, especially my father.”
Ajinkya Rahane: “It has been one of the stories of the tournament, I enjoyed it. I think that the credit goes to CSK management and obviously the Captain, Mahi bhai, who backed me and told me before the season what my role will be if I get an opportunity.
Ravindra Jadeja: “Feeling amazing, winning this title in front of my home crowd. They have all come here, in big numbers to support CSK. As a team, we would like to dedicate this victory to one of the most special members of our team – MS Dhoni. I was just thinking that I need to swing hard, as much as I can because every ball was important. I was looking to swing hard no matter what. Where the ball will go, I was not thinking about that, just was looking to swing hard.
Moeen Ali: “Unbelievable. I thought the way we came back there… Our voices have gone already. To beat such a good side on a wicket like that was amazing.”
Devon Conway: It has been great batting alongside Rutu (Ruturaj Gaikwad). Our partnership, left-right hand combination works well for us. And we thoroughly enjoyed our time on and off the field. You are always learning under M S Dhoni. There were some top players in our group. So it allows me to speak to them a lot about batting.”
Ruturaj Gaikwad: “I think this one was more special than the 2021 Tournament. And winning it from two balls with ten runs needed was amazing. The way everyone contributed right from the first game; Devon Conway continued this way throughout the season and Jinks Rahane played amazingly and a terrific knock from Rayudu.
Deepak Chahar On Rayudu: We sat together every day and had a discussion. He said, ‘I will win the final.’ When I was not playing, I was feeling that I can contribute to the powerplay. It is just a simple plan. Whenever we were going to play, we were going to just win the title.”
Dwayne Bravo: “[On going from player to coach and his role in talking to bowlers like Tushar Deshpande] It has been good. I have been very happy with them. I think it is a great journey. But I got to give credit to our entire bowling unit and also the bowling coach Eric Simmons, he played a very crucial part. It was a great combination between Eric and myself and you know, as we said before in all of our meetings, we are happy and proud to see the way how this young bowling group go there and showcases their talent.”
Tushar Deshpande: “I said before the season started that I want to win the IPL championship for my team and I have done this now. So I can say that I have given my best for the team and am looking forward to improving a lot in my bowling and when I have DJ Bravo along my side, all the plans are clear. Just we look to execute as a team.”
Stephen Fleming: “This feels amazing. It was a big, long two days (for the final); a big campaign. But just delighted to come back with two balls (in the end), you cannot ask for much more really. Massive squad. You have got 20-odd players, about 12-15 coaching staff. So, it is a real caravan of Cricket. At different stages, people are called upon to do different tasks, but when it comes down to the last couple of balls, you are just sitting and watching really. So helpless and ageing by the second (laughs), and just pleased that you are over the line.”
Michael Hussey: “What a phenomenal game! Hats off to Gujarat as well, I thought that they have been fantastic all season. But, thankfully, Jaddu (Jadeja) did the business in the end. He got us over the line. Dhoni is an amazing human being. I think that the biggest strength he has is the ability to take pressure off players. He said to Pathi [SP Senapati] to relax, calm down after a fumble and Senapati got a run-out for us to help us win that game and get through to the final.”
