Chennai Super Kings (CSK) put on a spectacular show, with both their batsmen and bowlers shining, to secure a comprehensive 53-run win over Gujarat Titans in their second IPL match on Tuesday.
Ruturaj Gaikwad's team demonstrated their all-round strength. Rachin Ravindra laid the groundwork with a quickfire 46 off 20 balls, setting the stage for Shivam Dube to unleash his power with a rapid 51 off 23 balls. Gaikwad himself contributed a balanced 46 off 36 balls, helping Chennai amass a formidable total of 206 for 6.
In response, the Titans could only muster 143 for 8. The CSK bowlers, including Deepak Chahar (2/28 in 4 overs), Mustafizur Rahman (2/30 in 4 overs), Tushar Deshpande (2/21), and Matheesha Pathirana (1/29 in 4 overs), systematically dismantled the Titans' batting lineup.
The Titans' skipper, Shubman Gill, fell early due to a poorly chosen shot against a delivery from Deepak Chahar. With his departure, the Titans' hopes dwindled, as players like Wriddhiman Saha (21 off 17 balls) and B Sai Sudharsan (37 off 31 balls) struggled to take control.
Rachin and Dube's aggressive batting propelled CSK past the 200-run mark. Rachin capitalized on the Powerplay, racing to 46 off 20 balls, while Dube, a nightmare for spinners, hammered 51 in just 23 deliveries, hitting five sixes in the process.
Gaikwad's steady 46 off 36 balls and CSK's new recruit Sameer Rizvi's quickfire 14 off 6 balls also contributed significantly to the team's total. Rizvi marked his memorable IPL debut by hitting Rashid Khan for two sixes.
Rachin, already a fan favorite, delighted everyone with his bold stroke-play. His three sixes off Umesh Yadav and Azmatullah Omarzai put the Titans under pressure.
Finally, it was Dube who stole the show, smashing Sai Kishore for two massive sixes and sending Johnson's delivery over the boundary for a maximum. He was well-supported by Daryl Mitchell, who scored an unbeaten 24 off 20 balls in a 57-run stand for the fourth wicket in 5.5 overs.
