CSK secures another championship title! In a rain-shortened match reduced to 15 overs, CSK’s opening duo of Ruturaj and Devon Conway provided a solid start once again. Conway displayed his aggression early on, taking on Shami and Hardik during the powerplay. The introduction of Noor Ahmad brought breakthroughs for the opposing team, as he dismissed both openers in the same over. The scoring rate seemed to slow down, but then Ajinkya Rahane took the stage and struck two magnificent sixes off Josh Little. He followed it up with two boundaries against Rashid, while his partner Dube struggled with his timing. However, Dube found his rhythm in the final over by Rashid Khan, hitting two crucial sixes and bringing CSK back into the contest. Rayudu emerged as the next hero for CSK, successfully reading Mohit Sharma’s slower deliveries and dispatching them over the boundary ropes. After Rayudu’s dismissal, Dhoni departed on the first ball he faced. In the ultimate over, Mohit Sharma executed almost perfect yorkers. But it was Sir Jadeja who had the last laugh, sealing the victory for CSK with a six and a four, forever etching his name in CSK folklore.

IPL 2023: Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans Final – A Look at the Highlights and Disappointments

The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League is reaching its conclusion as Chennai Super Kings aim to secure their record-equalling fifth title against defending champions Gujarat Titans.

Originally scheduled for Sunday, the final was postponed to the reserve day due to heavy rain and thunderstorms in Ahmedabad.

Let’s take a closer look at the standout moments and disappointments from the 2023 season in the world’s most lucrative cricket tournament.

Gill Shines Bright

Shubman Gill, previously criticized for his slow approach in T20 cricket, has transformed himself across formats. In this IPL, he emerged as the top scorer with 851 runs and counting, as he is set to play in the final. Gill’s three centuries, including a match-winning 129 off 60 balls against Mumbai, have garnered praise from former Indian captain Kapil Dev. However, Dev suggests giving Gill another season before making grand comparisons to legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli.

Baby Malinga’s Impact

Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana excelled during the tournament, taking 17 wickets for Chennai Super Kings. With a slinging action reminiscent of his hero Lasith Malinga, he showcased a knack for bowling yorkers. Pathirana, dubbed “Baby Malinga,” made his mark as a key player in Chennai’s death bowling. Captain M.S. Dhoni hailed the 20-year-old as “special.”

Rinku Singh, the Chase-master

Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Rinku Singh became an overnight sensation with his match-winning display, hitting five sixes off the final five balls in an incredible chase against Gujarat. His unbeaten 21-ball 48 was no fluke, as he registered four half-centuries and mastered the art of finishing games. Despite his impressive performances, Kolkata failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Curran’s Underwhelming Season

England’s World Cup-winning all-rounder Sam Curran failed to live up to expectations after Punjab Kings splurged $2.23 million on him, making him the most expensive buy in IPL history. With 276 runs and 10 wickets, Curran’s performances were lackluster, contributing to Punjab’s disappointing eighth-place finish. Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag criticized the investment, questioning Curran’s impact on the team.

Unimpressive Shaw

Delhi Capitals opener Prithvi Shaw, once compared to Sachin Tendulkar, endured a forgettable season with only 106 runs in eight matches. Struggling against quality seam bowling, Shaw lost his place in the XI midway through the tournament. Coach Ricky Ponting acknowledged the 23-year-old’s failure to live up to expectations, mirroring Delhi’s disappointing campaign, which saw them finish ninth in the table.

Brook’s Mixed Performance

England’s Harry Brook, despite scoring the first century of the season, failed to make a significant impact. Signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for $1.6 million, Brook managed only 90 runs in 10 matches, excluding his unbeaten century against Kolkata. Hyderabad dropped the 24-year-old for three matches, but their overall performance left them with the wooden spoon in the 10-team table. Brook’s post-century comments on social media were met with backlash from Indian trolls.

Despite being the most expensive player in the Indian Premier League’s history, England’s World Cup hero Sam Curran is facing criticism for his below-par performance with bat and ball.

Curran was bought by Punjab Kings for a whopping $2.23 million, but the team is currently languishing in eighth place in the 10-team table and is unlikely to qualify for the knock-out phase.

As of early Monday, with just one week remaining in the group phase, Curran was ranked 39th on the runs table with only one half-century and 216 runs from 11 innings.

Faf du Plessis, the South African batsman of the Bangalore team, has scored almost three times more runs and has seven half-centuries to top the batting charts.Curran, the left-arm fast bowler who was player of the tournament at the T20 World Cup for his run-stifling bowling at the death, has been ineffective with the ball as well.

He has only managed seven wickets (51st position) with an economy rate of over 10. The latest critic to comment on the 24-year-old’s underwhelming performance is former Indian opener Virender Sehwag, who unfavorably compared Curran to his bargain-priced teammate Prabhsimran Singh after the latter’s century on Saturday.

“You bought Sam Curran for ($2.23 million), what has he done?” Sehwag told the website Cricbuzz.Despite the record-setting price tag, Sehwag had previously criticized Curran last month, stating that “he doesn’t have that experience yet.”

After a previous stint in the IPL with Chennai, Curran has made a strong start in this season’s competition. He stepped in as captain for Punjab in the absence of injured player Shikhar Dhawan and played decisive roles in two out of three matches. In particular, his bowling figures of 3-31 – his best this season – helped Punjab secure a victory against Lucknow, and his 29-ball 55 earned him the Player of the Match award in a game against the Mumbai Indians.

Despite the high fee paid for his services, Curran has attempted to downplay the pressure, stating in an interview with Sky Sports last month: “They’ve put a lot of faith in me and I guess I’m the type of person who tries not to put too much pressure on myself. Hopefully, I can deliver some good performances for the team. The price tag is what it is.”

Despite a promising start to the current IPL season, Curran has since struggled to perform on the challenging pitches and conditions, leading to criticism from pundits like Simon Doull. The former New Zealand paceman picked Curran as his biggest disappointment of the season, citing his poor bowling figures at the death and failure to live up to his high price tag.

However, Curran is not the only expensive player to disappoint in this year’s IPL. Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, who was the second most expensive buy in the auction, has been decent but not spectacular, hitting 274 runs and taking only six wickets for Mumbai Indians.

Several English players have also failed to meet expectations, which could be a concern for the country’s upcoming matches in the Ashes and one-day World Cup. England Test skipper Ben Stokes managed only two underwhelming performances for Chennai Super Kings before being sidelined with an injury. Harry Brook, who scored the first century of this season, has also struggled to make an impact for Sunrisers Hyderabad, scoring just 63 runs in eight matches.

Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle expressed disappointment in Brook’s performance, saying that he had high expectations for the young batsman after seeing his century in Kolkata.