- CSK’s fifth IPL title secured with last ball drama in Ahmedabad
- Ravindra Jadeja stunned Gujarat Titans with six and four finish
- Sai Sudharsan’s 96 nearly powered Titans to back to back crowns
Three years on, the drama of Ahmedabad still lingers in IPL folklore. Ahead of this Friday’s latest final, memories inevitably drift back to one of the most extraordinary title deciders the competition has ever witnessed as Chennai Super Kings sealed a fifth IPL crown in breathtaking fashion against Gujarat Titans.
Played on 29 May 2023 at the vast Narendra Modi Stadium, the final had already made history before a ball was bowled. Relentless rain forced the contest onto a reserve day for the first weather related postponement in IPL final history. What followed was a contest packed with momentum swings, nerve and unforgettable late heroics. View the full scorecard here.
Sai Sudharsan’s brilliance powered Gujarat Titans
After winning the toss, Chennai chose to bowl first and were immediately placed under pressure by a fearless Gujarat batting display. Young left hander Sai Sudharsan announced himself on the biggest stage with a stunning 96 from just 47 deliveries, an innings filled with authority and elegance.
Alongside him, Wriddhiman Saha provided the early platform with 54 while Hardik Pandya added late acceleration as Gujarat powered their way to 214 for 4 from 20 overs, then the highest total ever recorded in an IPL final.
For long periods it appeared the defending champions had one hand on the trophy.
Then the rain returned.
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CSK’s fifth IPL title was won in unforgettable fashion
A lengthy delay transformed the chase into a frantic 15 over sprint with Chennai handed a revised target of 171 under the DLS method. Suddenly the final became less about patience and more about fearless intent.
Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad launched the pursuit with trademark fluency before Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube kept the asking rate under control. Conway smashed 47 from 25 balls while Gaikwad struck 26 at the top of the order.
Even so, Gujarat’s attack featuring Mohammed Shami, Rashid Khan and Mohit Sharma refused to let the contest slip away quietly.
Ravindra Jadeja delivered an IPL final for the ages
As the final over arrived, Chennai still needed 13 runs. Mohit Sharma delivered four exceptional balls and conceded just three runs, swinging the pressure firmly back onto Chennai. The atmosphere inside Ahmedabad tightened with every dot ball.
But finals often belong to familiar heroes.
Ravindra Jadeja, a long serving figure in Chennai’s golden era, produced two moments that instantly became part of IPL history. He launched the penultimate ball high over long on for six before calmly guiding the final delivery away for four, sparking scenes of jubilation in yellow.
Chennai had completed a dramatic five wicket victory, finishing on 171 for 5, and moved level with Mumbai Indians on five IPL titles.
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A final that shattered records across India
Conway was named Player of the Match for his explosive innings while Gujarat could still reflect on a remarkable campaign of their own. Shubman Gill finished the season as the tournament’s leading run scorer with 890 runs and Gujarat’s formidable bowling trio of Shami, Mohit and Rashid collected 82 wickets between them.
The final also shattered viewing records across India with the live stream attracting more than 32 million concurrent viewers, underlining the scale and spectacle of a night that captured the imagination of cricket fans everywhere.
Even now, the image remains vivid. Jadeja sprinting in celebration. MS Dhoni lifted onto shoulders. Gujarat left stunned after coming within touching distance of back to back crowns.
Few IPL finals have delivered theatre quite like it.
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