Revenge will fuel Gujarat Titans’ title defense when they clash with four-time winners the Chennai Super Kings today in the Indian Premier League (IPL) final in Ahmedabad.
Gujarat, who won the title in their debut season last year, topped the group stage this season, but went down to the M.S. Dhoni-led Super Kings in the first qualifier on Tuesday.
Hardik Pandya’s men bounced back from that defeat to thrash the league’s most successful team, the Mumbai Indians, in Friday’s second qualifier to set up a rematch with Chennai at Gujarat’s home ground in Ahmedabad.
Photo: AFP
Gujarat also have the personnel to become the first IPL franchise to win the league in their first two attempts.
Opener Shubman Gill, this season’s leading scorer, is in sublime form having smashed three hundreds in his past four innings.
“He is a superstar and is going to do big things to franchise cricket and Indian cricket,” Pandya said of his India teammate Gill.
Gill called his 129 his “best innings” in the IPL after he powered the Titans into the final with a 62-run thrashing of Mumbai.
Gill’s 60-ball knock fired Gujarat to 233-3, a total they defended by bowling out five-time winners Mumbai for 171 in 18.2 overs.
“I think this was probably my best innings so far in the IPL,” Gill said.
He hit 10 sixes and put on a second-wicket stand of 138 with Sai Sudharsan, who made 43.
The top three bowlers this season — Mohammed Shami, Rashid Khan and Mohit Sharma — are also from Gujarat.
Chennai have an opportunity to match Mumbai’s five IPL titles in what could be their talismanic leader Dhoni’s final season.
Dhoni has brought out the best in his teammates with his inspiring leadership.
While Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway have been their leading scorers, Shivam Dube has transformed into Chennai’s six-hitting machine.
In the bowling department, Matheesha Pathirana and Tushar Deshpande have emerged as death-overs specialists.
“You use them in a manner where they have most chances of performing and, at the same time, groom them in the areas where they’re not very strong,” Dhoni said of his leadership approach.
Additional reporting by AFP
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