Despite going through defeat towards Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 closing, Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Hardik Pandya mentioned that he’s happy with his workforce and if he needed to lose the title to anybody he would slightly lose it to CSK captain MS Dhoni. Ravindra Jadeja supplied a grandstand end, hitting a six and a 4 with 10 wanted off the final two balls, to energy Chennai Super Kings to their fifth IPL title as they beat defending champions Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in a thriller on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Jadeja smashed 15* off 6 balls as a set of cameos from Devon Conway (47 off 25), Ruturaj Gaikwad (26 off 16) and Shivam Dube (32* off 21). Ajinkya Rahane (27 off 13) and Ambati Rayudu (19 off 8) helped CSK chase down 171 from 15 overs in a rain-shortened IPL closing.

Pandya mentioned that it was future for CSK captain MS Dhoni to win the title and good issues occur to good folks and “he’s been one of the best people he knows.”

“I’m very happy for him (MS Dhoni), destiny had this written. If I had to lose, I’d rather lose to him. Good things happen to good people, and he’s been one of the best people I know. God has been kind, God has been kind to me as well but today was his night,” Hardik Pandya mentioned on the time of the post-match presentation.

Pandya praised batter Sai Sudharsan who performed a combating knock of 96 runs off 47 balls to assist GT put up a mammoth 214/4.

Sudharsan had placed on a shocking present on the large stage with a splendid 96 off 47 balls, ably supported by Wriddhiman Saha (54 off 39) and Shubman Gill 39 (20) to assist GT put up a mammoth 214/4 earlier than rain compelled the match to be shortened to fifteen overs.

“I think we tick a lot of boxes as a team. We play with a lot of heart, really proud of the way we kept fighting. We have a motto – we win together, we lose together. I’m not going to make excuses, CSK played the better cricket. We batted really well, special mention to Sai (Sudarshan), not easy to play that well at this level. We have been backing the boys and trying to make sure we get the best out of them. But their success is their success. The way they have put their hand up and delivered – Mohit, Rashid, Shami everyone,” he mentioned.