Rashid, Gill guide Gujarat Titans to victory in IPL 2023 curtain-raiser

The Gujarat Titans started their title defence on a winning note as Hardik Pandya’s side edged out the Chennai Super Kings by five wickets in the curtain-raiser for season 16 of the Indian Premier League in Ahmedabad. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s sublime 92 powered CSK to a first-innings score of 178, but the Titans responded in equal measure with Shubman Gill lacing a brisk half-century and contributions Vijay Shankar and Rashid Khan taking the team over the line with four balls to spare.

The fans inside the Narendra Modi Stadium were treated to a spectacle in the opening game of IPL 2023 as Ruturaj Gaikawad got CSK off to a flyer with the bat. Mohammed Shami burst through Devon Conway’s defences for one, but Gaikwad ensured that the Super Kings maximised the powerplay with his jaw-dropping stroke-play. The opener greeted Hardik Pandya with a pair of boundaries in the second over before pulling Joshua Little for six over square leg.

Rashid Khan further dented CSK’s progress by removing Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes in consecutive overs, but Gaikwad continued his charge to bring up a 23-ball half-century. The right-hander drove Hardik Pandya for back-to-back sixes through the covers and cleared the ropes three times in Alzarri Joseph’s first over to take Chennai to 90 for three in nine overs.

Gaikwad pelted three more sixes against the Titans – taking his tally to nine for the innings – and was on course for a century, but holed out for 92 to long-on against Alzarri Joseph.

Gaikwad’s untimely dismissal and a couple of slow knocks from Ambati Rayudu and Shivam Dube cost CSK their momentum in the second half of their innings. Alzarri Joseph, Rashid Khan, and Mohammed Shami combined to squeeze Chennai at the death, restricting them to just 64 runs in the final eight overs.

Chasing 179, the Titans got off to a blazing start. Wriddhiman Saha smashed the IPL’s first-ever impact substitute – Tushar Deshpande – for two boundaries in the second over and scored a quickfire 25 off 16 before falling to a superb catch from Shivam Dube. Gill continued Saha’s momentum for Gujarat, taking the hosts to 65 for one at the end of the powerplay. The opener stitched a half-century partnership with the Titan’s impact player Sai Sudarshan – who replaced the injured Kane Williamson – and went on to bring up his 50 in 30 deliveries.

Gill kept Gujarat ahead of the run rate in the chase with regular boundaries, but couldn’t see his side through till the end as he fell for 63 off Tushar Desphande with 40 needed off 30 balls. GT endured some nervy moments after Gill’s dismissal, with the equation coming down to 23 off 12, but Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia kept their nerve to take the defending champions home with four balls to spare.