Ruturaj Gaikwad set the tone for Chennai Super Kings on a tricky, stop-start pitch, and MS Dhoni then marshalled his bowlers superbly as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) held off a late flurry of strokes from Rashid Khan to seal a 15-run win and make their way to the IPL final for an unprecedented tenth time. Here, we look back at the takeways from the game.
Tale of two starts
The first 10 overs of the two innings told us where this match was going to go. Gujarat Titans got to 72-2 in pursuit of a target of 173. Chennai Super Kings were 85-0 at that stage, with Ruturaj Gaekwad playing the most important innings of the match. The Chennai juggernaut lost momentum in the second half, but the tempo that had been set was decisive. In comparison, the Gujarat chase was lame and tame. The pitch was not quite a belter for batters, and the visiting side was caught in unfamiliar territory. They could not come to terms with CSK’s bowlers on a sluggish surface.
Field placements decisive
These things are not often noticed, but they make a world of a difference at times. At one stage, MS Dhoni deployed six fielders inside the circle on the off-side when his spinners were operating. This was a crucial phase of the match when choking the opposition was of all importance. Not that such ploys click every day, but on this occasion, it did. Hardik Pandya was caught inside that cordon and that was a telling blow for Gujarat. Then, at the later stage, Dhoni strengthened the outfield on the off-side. That, too, paid dividends. This was captaincy of a very special kind, which took CSK to their 10th IPL final, the most for any side.
Crucial cameos in the middle
Yes, Gaekwad was excellent and made the bulk of the runs. But what took CSK to 172 were the cameos fired by their middle-order men. Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali all hammered quick runs. None of them got big individual scores, but what they did helped their team’s cause immensely. These were unspectacular yet priceless contributions. Quick runs were the need of the hour and these guys provided them. And these runs came at a critical stage of the game. Dhoni could not get going with the bat, but the others did. They made a big difference.
Jadeja the key difference
What does one say of Jadeja? In a match where spinners from both sides were reasonably effective, he was extra special. The miserly overs he bowled in the middle of the Gujarat innings were decisive. The thing about him is, he is the most uncomplicated of spinners. He bowls flat and straight. The conventional concept of giving the ball air is not a part of his book. He comes in and aims at the stumps. If you miss, I hit! It’s a great strategy on a pitch like the one at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. It was Jadeja’s day with the ball. Figures of 4-0-18-2 were instrumental in his team’s victory.