In an electrifying IPL showdown, Gujarat Titans showcased their batting prowess, led by skipper Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan, who smashed brilliant hundreds in a record-equalling double hundred plus opening stand against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Sudharsan’s explosive 103 off 51 balls, complemented by Gill’s sublime 104 off 55 balls, powered GT to a formidable total of 231 for 3 after being put into bat by CSK. Their sensational partnership of 210 runs for the first wicket equalled the IPL record set by Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul in 2022.

Despite a valiant effort from CSK’s Daryl Mitchell (63 off 34) and Moeen Ali (56 off 36), who shared a crucial 109-run partnership for the fourth wicket, the target proved too steep. CSK’s chase faltered, and despite a late cameo from Mahendra Singh Dhoni (26 off 11 balls), they were restricted to 196 for 8 in 20 overs.

Shubman Gill’s century gives the team a push towards win

Mohit Sharma starred with the ball for GT, claiming 3/31, while Rashid Khan picked up 2/38 to stifle CSK’s chase. CSK won the toss and elected to bowl first against GT. GT’s openers got off to a flying start, with Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan laying a solid foundation. Gill’s explosive century, coupled with Sudharsan’s impressive ton, propelled GT to a commanding total of 231/2.

See Also: History by GT skipper! Shubman Gill smashes 100th IPL hundred

Daryl Mitchell and Moeen Ali’s efforts fall short as CSK face defeat

In pursuit of the daunting target, CSK’s top order faltered early, with Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane departing cheaply. Despite a resilient effort from Mitchell and Ali, CSK’s chase faltered, with key wickets falling at crucial junctures. Mohit Sharma and Rashid Khan starred with the ball for GT, securing a vital 35-run win and keeping their playoff hopes alive.

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season unfolds, the clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium promises to be a spectacle of cricketing brilliance. Both teams are gearing up to bounce back from their recent defeats and claim victory in this high-stakes encounter.

CSK’s Batting Dominance

The anticipation is palpable as CSK, the five-time champions, prepares to host the high-flying SRH in what is expected to be a thrilling showdown. With both teams eager to secure crucial points in the IPL standings, every run and wicket will hold immense significance in this fiercely contested match.

See Also: Watch: Virat’s aggressive celebration following the match victory echoes loudly

CSK showcased their batting prowess again by surpassing the 200-run mark, thanks to a stellar performance from their top order. Ruturaj Gaikwad led the charge with a scintillating innings, ably supported by contributions from Daryl Mitchell and Shivam Dube.

Most 200+ totals in T20 cricket
35 – CSK*
34 – Somerset
32 – India
31 – RCB
29 – Yorkshire
28 – Surrey

Gaikwad’s Heroics

A heartbreak for Ruturaj Gaikwad as the CSK skipper misses his century by just two runs while attempting a big shot off T Natarajan in the last over. Gaikwad’s near-century innings of 98 runs off just 54 balls was the highlight of CSK’s batting display. Despite falling short of a century by two runs, Gaikwad’s aggressive yet composed batting laid the foundation for CSK’s formidable total against SRH.

Mitchell’s Return to Form

New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell made a significant contribution with a fine half-century, showcasing his ability to stabilize the innings and build partnerships. Mitchell’s return to form provided the much-needed impetus to CSK’s batting lineup. Mitchell scored 52 off 32 balls. Gaikwad and Mitchell strung together a 107-run stand.

CSK’s Finish

The CSK skipper once again led from the front with another captivating innings, displaying his class and experience on the field. Despite falling prey to exhaustion towards the end of his innings, the skipper’s contribution was instrumental in guiding CSK to a commanding total. Shivam Dube then played a cameo of 39 not out (20 balls) and shared a 74-run stand with his skipper to guide CSK to a 200-plus total. Dhoni scored 5 runs off 2 balls.

SRH Bowling Efforts

While SRH put up a spirited bowling effort, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, they struggled to contain CSK’s relentless onslaught. Despite their best efforts, SRH’s bowlers found it challenging to break through CSK’s batting lineup, conceding a formidable total. For SRH, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat and T Natarajan took a wicket each.

Chennai Super Kings returned triumphantly to their fortress at Chepauk, securing yet another victory and putting an end to Kolkata Knight Riders’ three-match winning streak today, on Monday. Led by skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK chased down a below-par target of 138 runs with ease, finishing the game with 14 deliveries to spare and seven wickets in hand.

Winning the toss proved to be crucial as CSK chose to bowl first, restricting KKR to a modest total of 137/9. CSK’s bowlers maintained consistent pressure, ensuring KKR struggled to build partnerships. CSK’s pursuit of the target was smooth, with Ruturaj Gaikwad‘s unbeaten innings guiding them to their third win in five matches.

Gaikwad and Daryl Mitchell partnership can always make the magic

Although KKR had a brief opportunity to make a comeback, dismissing Rachin Ravindra early, CSK’s strong batting line-up, led by Gaikwad and Daryl Mitchell, denied them any chance of a fightback. Gaikwad’s brilliant innings, supported by a solid 70-run partnership with Daryl Mitchell, showcased CSK’s dominance throughout the match. Mitchell, despite batting at various positions in the previous games, displayed consistency and provided valuable support to Gaikwad at the crease.

Taking to the crease at No. 3, Daryl Mitchell played a supportive role alongside his captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, contributing 25 runs from 19 balls. Gaikwad, who had faced batting woes in previous matches, seized the opportunity to shine, delivering a match-winning unbeaten 63 runs off 57 balls, the highest individual score of the day.

Gaikwad’s impeccable footwork and batting prowess allowed him to dominate the opposition, steering CSK towards victory with ease. The packed MA Chidambaram Stadium erupted with excitement as Shivam Dube blazed through with a quickfire 28 runs off just 18 balls, followed by a memorable appearance from the legendary MS Dhoni.

See Also: Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 7 wickets; Points Table updated

Ravindra Jadeja becomes the king of the ground

CSK’s dominance was also evident in their bowling performance, with Ravindra Jadeja taking center stage. Jadeja’s exceptional spell of 3/18 turned the game in CSK’s favor, dismantling KKR’s batting lineup and claiming his 100th catch in the IPL.

KKR struggled against the spin duo of Jadeja and Maheesh Theekshana, failing to find boundaries for 34 balls. Mustafizur Rahman’s return bolstered CSK’s bowling attack, as he picked up crucial wickets to regain the Purple Cap.

Tushar Deshpande also made significant contributions, dismissing KKR’s danger men Rinku Singh and Andre Russell, along with claiming a wicket off the first ball of the innings.

CSK’s comprehensive bowling display restricted KKR to 137/9, ensuring an easy chase for the hosts. With this victory, CSK further solidified their position in the tournament standings, showcasing their prowess both with the ball and the bat.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said that Daryl Mitchell was the Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) best buy at the IPL 2024 auction. However, CSK bought six players at the auction in December last year. Mitchell (₹14 crore) was their most expensive buy, with Sameer Rizvi (₹8.40 crore), Shardul Thakur (₹4 crore), Mustafizur Rahman (₹2 crore), Rachin Ravindra (₹1.8 crore) and Avanish Rao Aravelly (₹20 lakh) being their other buys as well.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Gavaskar said: “Doesn’t matter whether I am happy or not, they have got to be happy. I think they have got a good blend over there. When you look at Daryl Mitchell, who I think has been a splendid cricketer in all forms of the game. The way he played in the ODI World Cup and the way he has played in the T20 format as well, with the fact that he can bowl a bit. He might not bowl you four overs but he can maybe come and bowl you the odd couple of overs.”

Sunil Gavaskar also added that the New Zealand player can prove destructive in any batting position as well. Meanwhile, Mitchell has scored 1260 runs which came at a strike rate of 138.61 in 63 T20Is. He has batted at all positions from opening to No. 7 as well but he has scored most of his runs at No. 4 and No. 5 as well. Aakash Chopra added that CSK might have bought Rachin Ravindra as an alternative to Moeen Ali.

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He said: “Then either at No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5, and even as a finisher at No. 5 or No. 6, he can be a very, very dangerous player. So I think that’s probably their best buy. I know the emotional buy would have been Rachin Ravindra because of the fantastic World Cup that he had. They will probably be looking to see whether he can fit in the shoes of Moeen Ali.”

The veteran also added that the two spin-bowling all-rounders bring similar attributes to the table as well. It is also noteworthy that, Rachin  Ravindra hasn’t enjoyed great success with the bat in T20I cricket, scoring 146 runs in 17 innings at an average of 12.16 and a strike rate of 116.80 as well. However, he has done well with the ball, picking up 11 wickets in 13 innings which came at an impressive economy rate of 6.67 as well.

“Both of them are similar cricketers, excepting Moeen bowls right-handed and bats left-handed, and Rachin Ravindra bats left-handed and bowls left-handed as well. Both are outstanding fielders as well,” Sunil Gavaskar concluded.

Four years ago, Daryl Mitchell was watching the World Cup Final unfold from home as New Zealand lost the Finals by the barest of margins. At 28, he was three T20Is old and was a family man. Four years later Daryl Mitchell is now a hundred internationals old and has come to India as one of their best players.

He has become the first name on the team sheet with what he offers and has gone through a dream run in the last few years. From carrying New Zealand’s batting against England back in 2022 during a three-Test series to ensuring New Zealand gets something presentable in the T20 World Cup Semis against Pakistan, Daryl Mitchell has stood up when it matters the most.

He has nine hundreds to add to his name and has shown incredible flexibility batting up and down the order. His contributions though do not stop with the ball. Although not a wicket-taker, Daryl Mitchell has the ability to chip in with few overs and can be pretty handy in the middle overs. Last time, New Zealand had Colin De Grandhomme who could hit down the order and provide some overs with the ball that would annoy batters due to his low pace and accuracy. Now, Daryl Mitchell, an arguably better batter is likely to fill in that spot.

Starting as a late bloomer, Daryl Mitchell is doing his best to prove he is New Zealand’s version of Mike Hussey or a Misbah Ul Haq. A chance though could have come over a decade ago. He was in the squad for some subcontinent tours but struggles against spin on A tours prevented him from making the final cut back in 2013-2014.

His turning point came in 2018 with a really good domestic season. In early 2019 he got his first call-up in a T20 series against India. He didn’t impress enough but was good enough to prove he had the ability. An injury to Colin De Grandhomme helped him find a spot in the Test side later in the year. With good numbers across formats, he found himself in the side as an opener for the T20 World Cup.

The tournament turned out to be the turning point for him. He was pretty consistent throughout but his 72 in the Semi-Finals against England is where he made his mark. From that moment on Daryl Mitchell has not turned back. He has come out as one of their most important players. His hundreds in each of the three Tests against England further established his ability. With traffic at the top though, Daryl Mitchell has moved back down the order and is showing that he can do the job nicely over there.

See Also: https://cricketwinner.com/latest-updates/icc-cwc-2023-top-5-run-scorers-in-the-icc-cwc-history

He comes into the World Cup with three centuries in his last seven ODIs. Kane Williamson’s absence in the first game presents him with a chance at three as well. Against England in particular, Daryl Mitchell has a very scary record. He dominated in both Tests and T20s against them in the past. An ODI century against them earlier in the year will keep them watching him even more. With a fabulous record, he now awaits the opener as he waits to take on England.