Holders Gujarat Titans Win IPL Opener Against Chennai Super Kings

Shubman Gill leads Gujarat to Victory

Gujarat Titans began this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) with a win against the Chennai Super Kings by five wickets in front of a home crowd of over 100,000 in Ahmedabad. Gill scored 63 runs, including six 4s and three 6s, in a 36-ball innings.

Gujarat’s Victorious Chase

Gujarat was chasing 179 for the win and Gill’s batting helped them achieve the target with four balls to spare at the home ground. It was a big win for the defending champions in front of a record-breaking crowd.

Grand Opening Ceremony

The 16th season of the T20 tournament began with a glittering opening ceremony, followed by fireworks display. The world’s biggest cricket stadium, with an official capacity of 132,000, hosted the opening match.

Ruturaj and Gaikwad Brave Chennai Batting

Chennai opener Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 92 runs, including three 4s and nine 6s, off 50 balls. However, he lost partner Moeen Ali for 23 and new signing Ben Stokes, who was bought for $1.96m in the auction, for seven. Their impressive runs helped Chennai to reach 178-7.

Bowlers Play Vital Role in Gujarat Victory

But bowlers Mohammed Shami, Rashid Khan, and Alzarri Joseph took two wickets each to stop Chennai’s rapid progress. The crucial wickets that they got helped Gujarat to stop the opposition’s scoring.

Impact Player Rule and Captain’s Announcement of Playing XI

The IPL announced a new rule for this season where captains are allowed to announce their playing XI after the toss. The new “impact player” rule was useful for both Chennai and Gujarat as they replaced players through substitutions. Also, teams could review umpires’ decisions on no-balls and wides via the Decision Review System.

Rashid Named Man of The Match

Gujarat Titans beat Chennai Super Kings by five wickets after unbeaten cameos from Rashid (10) and Rahul Tewatia (15) steered their team home. Rashid was named man of the match for his all-round show.

The World’s Richest Cricket Tournament

The IPL began in 2008 and is the world’s richest cricket tournament, this year returning to a home-and-away format following the Covid pandemic. The BCCI predicts that it will be a huge revenue earner this year.

Last IPL Season For Dhoni

41-year-old M.S. Dhoni, the former India captain played for Chennai Super Kings against Gujarat Titans, scoring nine runs off eight balls. He receiving a warm welcome from the large crowd at the start of the game. It could be his last IPL as a player.

Gujarat Pushing for Another Title Win

The winner of last year’s tournament, Gujarat Titans, began the IPL in spectacular style with a win in front of a massive crowd. The tournament runs until May 28, and it could be the year Gujarat Titans defend their IPL title.

Credit: https://news.yahoo.com/gujarat-win-ipl-opener-front-191841957.html

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