Hardik Pandya: “(Bowling) We were quite spot on but we made some basic errors. I felt were were exactly 15 runs short [also the margin of defeat]. I think we did a lot of things right. But we bowled a couple of soft balls in between. We gave some runs in between, we must’ve conceded 16 runs or so due to our soft balls. Don’t want to think too much about it, we have one more chance of going to the final. (Dhoni made 172 feel like 190?) That’s the beauty about him as well. We gave 15 runs extra, lost wickets, and that’s the reason we are talking to you right now. Two days later we will give it a crack again. (Will you be watching tomorrow?) Yes, my brother is playing. I hope I see him there [in Ahmedabad].
MS Dhoni: “I think IPL is too big to say it is just another final,” Dhoni says. “It is no longer eight teams. Ten teams makes it all the more tougher. Hard work of two months. Lot of character showed by our players. Everyone has contributed. Yes, middle order hasn’t got ample opportunity but they have chipped in. (You wanted to bowl first too today?) It was simple. GT are good chasers so we wanted to get them in. But it was a good toss to lose.
The way it turned for 30 minutes…. and when Jaddu gets conditions like that, he is hard to hit. No forget the partnership between him and Moeen too. (Young fast bowlers… 2008 onwards there is always an uncapped fast bowler) We try to create an environment. We reiterate what the fast bowler’s strength is. We try to help them improve. And we try to help them explore their bowling. The support staff – Bravo, Eric – are also there, but when they are standing they are alone.
(Bravo was celebrating, you were looking happy…) You see the wicket, you see conditions, and you keep adjusting the field. I can be an annoying captain because I change the field every time. It can be annoying but I believe in my gut feet. That’s why I keep telling the fielders to keep an eye on me. (Fans in Chennai…. will they see you again over here?) I don’t know, I have 8-9 months to decide. I have ample time to decide. The auction is in December. I will always come to CSK. I have been out of home from January, been practicing since March, so we will see.”
Ruturaj Gaikwad is the POTM: The last 3-4 games in Chennai have been different. They’ve gotten slightly slower, slightly sticky. So I had to adapt my batsmanship. This was one of my days where I was going well. (Good partnership with Faf earlier, now with Conway) Both are obviously great international players. That helps me personally. Faf is someone who is aggressive from ball one while Devon has great batsmanship with gaps and rotating strike. He has been a great support especially in tough conditions.”
Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings Highlights today, Tuesday 23-5-2023. Qualifier 1 (N), Indian Premier League 2023, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.
Hardik Pandya says: it is an advantage to know the target in this type of fixture. “We don’t play in one style,” Hardik says. “We have adapted quite well and that’s why we’ve found success in away games. Darshan Nalkande replaces Yash Dayal.”
MS Dhoni says: he would’ve chased too, one reason for that decision would’ve been Titans’ strong chasing form. “We try to assign people with roles but what’s important is confidence levels,” Dhoni says. “It may slow down as the game progresses. Will depend on the dew factor. With a bit of cloud, there may or may not be dew. Same squad.”
Toss: Hardik Pandya opts to bowl for Titans.
Gujarat Titans team: Wriddhiman Saha †, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Dasun Shanaka, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mohammed Shami, Darshan Nalkande, Vijay Shankar.
Chennai Super Kings team: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Shivam Dube, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c)†, Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana.
Head to Head In T20’s: 3
Gujarat Titans Won: 3
Chennai Super Kings Won: 0
Form guide
(last five completed Matches, most recent first)
Gujarat Titans WWLWW
Chennai Super Kings WLWWNR
Match Timings: 2:00 PM GMT | 7:30 PM Local
Umpires – Anil Chaudhary, Chris Gaffaney
TV Umpire – Bruce Oxenford
Match Referee – Manu Nayyar
Reserve Umpire – Virender Sharma
Match number – IPL 2023 – Qualifier 1
IPL Points Table
Pitch and weather: From the Madras Cricket Club end, the square boundaries are 63 and 68 meter’s far. The RHB’s fine-leg and short-third boundaries are just 54 and 60 meter’s away. Straight ones are longer: 72-78 meter’s. Matthew Hayden says the pitch is dry and will definitely turn for the quality spinners on both teams. This looks like a170-ish pitch. It may dry and may slow down.
