IPL 2024: Gujarat Titans pack a mean punch against Chennai Super Kings

Gill, Sudharsan centuries headline Gujarat's 35-run win over Chennai
AHMEDABAD: Their attacking strokeplay having propelled them to 231, Gujarat Titans fielded and caught well to stop Chennai Super Kings at 196/8 and triumph by 35 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday.
The win kept alive GT's faint hopes of qualifying for the playoffs. GT also broke the rut of three defeats and avenged the loss to CSK in last year's final.

CSK began their quest for 232 on the wrong note, losing Rachin Ravindra (1) to a run out by an athletic piece of fielding from David Miller at backward point.
Opener and impact player Ajinkya Rahane (1) was caught at mid-off off Sandeep Warrier's bowling. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad went without troubling the scorers after being caught at deep square leg by Rashid Khan as the visitors slipped to 10/3 in three overs.
Moeen Ali and Daryll Mitchell began the rebuilding by targeting Titans debutant Kartik Tyagi and spinners Rashid and Noor Ahmed. Ali hit the Afghan left-arm wrist spinner for three maximums in the 11th over as CSK reached 119 in 12 overs.
However, the introduction of Mohit Sharma changed the complexion of the match as he first dismissed Mitchell (63 off 34b; 7x4, 3x6), then Ali (56 off 36b; 4x4, 4x6) before accounting for the dangerous-looking Shivam Dube (21 off 13b; 2x4, 1x6). Good outfield catching by Shahrukh Khan and Ahmad sent back the trio and tilted the result in Titans' favour. MS Dhoni (26 off 11b; 1x4, 3x6) entertained the crowd by hitting maximums off Sharma and Rashid.

Earlier, the intent and uninhibited strokeplay missing from the Gujarat Titans (GT) during the current IPL campaign was on display. Captain Shubman Gill (104 off 55b; 9x4, 6x6) and fellow opener Sai Sudharsan (103 off 51b; 5x4, 7x6) smashed scintillating tons to equal the highest opening wicket partnership. Sudharsan had missed out on a ton in the IPL final last year, having made 96 not out.
However, what initially seemed like a score in excess of 250 was kept to 231 by CSK bowlers Tushar Deshpande (2/33), Shardul Thakur (0/25) and Simarjeet Singh, who delivered tight last five overs, conceding just 41 runs and taking three wickets.
Gill and Sudharsan, opening in place of Wriddhiman Saha, went on the rampage from the first over itself, with the former lofting Mitchell Santner for maximum over mid-on.