In the IPL 2023 final, Chennai Super Kings secured their fifth title by defeating Gujarat Titans despite a rain-interrupted match. This victory leveled their record with Mumbai Indians for most titles won, reaffirming MS Dhoni’s stature as one of cricket’s finest captains. A remarkable 96-run knock from Sai Sudharsan powered GT to a total of 214/4 in 20 overs, with even Wriddhiman Saha contributing a half-century. However, rain disrupted play, leading to a revised target of 171 runs in 15 overs for CSK using the DLS method.
With CSK at 158/5 in the 14th over, needing 13 runs from the final over, Ravindra Jadeja (4*) and Shivam Dube (30*) took charge. An intense last-over chase unfolded, culminating in Jadeja smashing a six off Mohit Sharma’s delivery to seal the win with a boundary off the last ball. Celebrating the victory, Dhoni lifted Jadeja in a rare display of emotion, adding a humorous touch during a recent CSK promotional event.
During the event, Jadeja humorously remarked about being one of the few lifted by Dhoni after his match-winning performance. Dhoni, acknowledging Jadeja’s talent and mindset, praised his crucial innings under pressure, highlighting the difficulty of executing those crucial shots in a tense situation. As the IPL 2024 season kicked off, Dhoni surprised fans by passing on the CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad, under whose leadership the team has started strong with two wins in two games.
