CHENNAI, India (AP) — Chennai Super Kings powered their option to a record-breaking tenth Indian Premier League closing with a 15-run win over defending champion Gujarat Titans within the playoffs on Tuesday.

Gujarat may have one other probability to fulfill Chennai within the closing when it takes on the winner of Wednesday’s playoff between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants.

Opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad top-scored within the match with 60 off 44 balls earlier than cameos from the Chennai middle-order batters guided the house crew to 172-7.

Chennai didn’t deviate from its excellent bowling script of compacting the groups by means of spinners within the center overs as Gujarat obtained bowled out for 157 off the ultimate ball.

It was a exceptional turnaround for four-time champion Chennai this season after ending ninth final 12 months.

“I think IPL is too big to say it is just another final,” Chennai captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni mentioned. “Ten teams makes it all the more tougher. Everyone has contributed. Yes, middle order hasn’t got ample opportunity but they have chipped in.”

Gujarat, among the finest chasers within the IPL, couldn’t get momentum within the run-chase when quick bowler Deepak Chahar (2-29) continued to excel within the powerplay and had Wriddhiman Saha caught within the deep within the third over.

Even Shubman Gill, who got here into the playoff with two successive centuries, struggled to get going in opposition to onerous lengths of Chennai bowlers to attain 42 off 38 balls earlier than Chahar additionally had him caught within the deep off a superb quick ball in his return spell.

Spinners Ravindra Jadeja (2-18) and Maheesh Theekshana (2-28) then squeezed the runs within the center overs as they discovered loads of assist off the wicket earlier than Rashid Khan hit a speedy 30 off 16 balls to slim down the defeat.

Chennai’s discover of the match quick bowler Matheesha Pathirana (2-37) was a bit wayward bowling seven vast balls earlier than the Sri Lankan pacer wrapped up the innings by claiming the final wicket of Mohammed Shami off the ultimate ball.

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Earlier, after being put into bat, Gaikwad dominated an 87-run opening wicket stand with Devon Conway, who struggled to attain 40 off 34 balls.

Darshan Nalkande grew to become solely the fifth participant within the historical past of IPL to play his first recreation of the season within the playoff and in addition had Gaikwad caught at mid-wicket off a no-ball in his first over.

Gaikwad hit seven fours and a six earlier than he holed out at long-on within the eleventh over off Mohit Sharma (2-31) and Conway tried to speed up within the demise overs but additionally picked up Rashid Khan at deep mid-wicket off Shami (2-28).

However, Jadeja made 22 off 16 balls whereas Ambati Rayudu and Ajiknya Rahane each scored fast 17s to propel Chennai’s complete. Shami conceded 15 runs off the ultimate over after permitting solely 13 off his first three overs.

“We were quite spot on but we made some basic errors,” mentioned Gujarat captain Hardik Pandya, who made eight earlier than getting caught at level contained in the powerplay. “We must’ve conceded 16 runs or so due to our soft balls, (but) we have one more chance of going to the final. Two days later we will give it a crack again.”

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