Rachin Ravindra blazed his way to a scintillating 46 runs and secured three crucial catches, propelling defending champions Chennai Super Kings to their second consecutive IPL triumph with a commanding 63-run victory over Gujarat Titans at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday .
Debuting in the IPL arena, the left-handed Ravindra showcased his prowess, smashing his 46 off just 20 deliveries, while skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad mirrored his feat with an equally impressive knock of 46 runs. Their partnership laid the foundation for Chennai's imposing total of 206-6 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
The trio of seam bowlers—Mustafizur Rahman, Deepak Chahar, and Tushar Deshpande—orchestrated Gujarat's downfall by scalping two wickets each, restricting them to a meagre 143-8, marking Gujarat's most substantial defeat in terms of runs in the IPL.
Shivam Dube emerged as Chennai's batting powerhouse, blazing his way to a thunderous 51 runs off just 23 balls, bolstering the total following the stellar start provided by Ravindra and Gaikwad's opening partnership of 62 runs.
Earlier, veteran MS Dhoni relinquished the captaincy reins to Gaikwad, despite leading Chennai to their fifth IPL title the previous year.
Despite an early scare, Gaikwad capitalised on the opportunity, utilising the dropped chance to anchor the innings. Meanwhile, Ravindra continued his onslaught, smashing three sixes and six fours before falling short of his half-century to the spin wizard Rashid Khan, who had him stumped.
Gujarat's hopes were further dashed when their opener, Shubman Gill, departed for Chahar, leaving them struggling in the chase. Gill, who recently took over the reins, tasted success in his opening match after Hardik Pandya's departure to the Mumbai Indians.
As the tournament progresses, the excitement mounts, setting the stage for a thrilling finale slated to be held in Chennai on May 26th.
