CSK vs GT, Final IPL 2023 Stats Review: CSK's record-equalling 5th title, Ambati Rayudu’s feat and other stats

Devon Conway scored 47 off 25 while Ravindra Jadeja struck an unbeaten 15* off just six as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets (DLS Method) on the final delivery of a thriller of a final of IPL 2023 in Ahmedabad. Chasing a revised target of 171 in 15 overs due to rain, Jadeja smashed a six and a four off the final two balls of the summit clash to clinch a fifth title for the Super Kings.

Talking about how the mega final panned out, skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to field first. Wicketkeeper batter Wriddhiman Saha smashed 54 off 39 while his opening partner Shubman Gill racked up 39 off 20. But GT’s innings were all about youngster Sai Sudharsan as he hammered 96 off just 47 with eight fours and six maximums. Captain Hardik Pandya played a cameo of 21* off 12 as the Titans reached a massive total of 214/4 in their allotted 20 overs.

In reply, just when opener Ruturaj Gaikwad hit a boundary off the third delivery of the CSK innings, the heavens opened up and caused a long delay. Chasing 171, New Zealander Devon Conway slammed 47 off just 25 while Ruturaj Gaikwad amassed 26 off 16. Hard-hitter Shivam Dube slammed 32* off 21 while Ajinkya Rahane mustered a quickfire 27 off 13. Playing in his last IPL game, Ambati Rayudu struck 19 off just eight.

As mentioned above, with ten needed off the final two balls, Jadeja stunned the Titans by hitting a six and a four off the bowling of Mohit Sharma to clinch the title for the Super Kings. With this, CSK have now equaled MI’s record of five IPL trophies. For his crucial 47 runs right at the top of the order, Conway grabbed the Player of the Match award while Shubman Gill won the Player of the Tournament award for hitting 890 runs.

Meanwhile, here are some of the important stats and numbers from the Final between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League 2023:

5 – CSK equaled Mumbai Indian’s (MI) tally of five IPL titles. The Yellow Army sealed the titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023.

250 – MS Dhoni appeared in his landmark 250^th match in the IPL. He became the first player to achieve the feat with Rohit Sharma in the second position with 243 games under his belt.

6 – Ambati Rayudu is now joint-top with Rohit Sharma for winning the most IPL titles as a player (six).

890 – Shubman Gill has now struck the second-most runs (890) in an IPL season. He surpassed Jos Buttler’s tally of 863 runs which he scored in the 2022 edition. Virat Kohli tops the chart with 973 runs in the year 2016.

214/4 – GT recorded the highest-ever total of 214/4 in finals in the IPL. They went past Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) score of 208/7 against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 2016 season.

96 – Sai Sudharsan scripted the third-highest score of 86 in an IPL final. He went past Murali Vijay’s score of 95 against RCB in 2011. Shane Watson (117* against SRH in 2018) and Wriddhiman Saha (115* against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2014) are in the top two spots.

6 – The winner of Qualifier One has won the IPL title for the sixth consecutive time since 2018.

672 – Devon Conway has now slammed the second-most runs (672) for CSK in an edition. He surpassed Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s tally of 633 runs in 2021 and 635 runs in 2021 respectively. Michael Hussey tops the chart with 733 runs in the 2013 season.

2 – For the second time, the chasing side has won the IPL final on the final delivery of the match. Rajasthan Royals (RR) did the job against CSK in the inaugural season in 2008.

35 – Shivam Dube is now joint-top with Shane Watson for smashing the most sixes (35) for CSK in a season. Watson also hit 35 in the 2018 edition.

62/0 – GT registered the highest-ever score of 62/0 in the powerplay in finals. MI recorded twin scores of 61/1 against CSK in 2015 and against Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2020.

2 – Sudharsan became the second youngest player (21y 226d) to smash a 50-plus score in an IPL season. Manan Vohra (20y 318d) occupies the top position for his 67-run knock against KKR in the summit clash in 2014.

572 – Gill has now racked up the second-most runs (572) at a venue (Ahmedabad) in an IPL season. Kohli is at the top for smashing 597 runs in Bangalore in the 2016 edition.

96 – Sudharsan struck the second-highest score of 96 by an uncapped player in IPL Playoffs. He surpassed Manish Pandey, who amassed 94 against KKR in the final nine years back. Rajat Patidar is on top for hitting 112* against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the eliminator clash last year.

16 – Ajinkya Rahane has now smashed the most maximums (16) in an IPL campaign. He deposited the ball 13 times into the stands in 2015.