CSK beat GT by 63 runs to start their IPL 2024 campaign on high

Chennai Super Kings beat Gujarat Titans by 63 runs to register their second straight victory of the IPL 2024 campaign. GT had to chase 207 runs and CSK didn't let that happen. Once again, it was a complete team effort from the defending champions, proving to the world once again why they are so smooth with their transition. Gujarat were never in the match and the Chennai bowlers made that easier for themselves. With this victory, Chennai Super Kings remain faultless in their title defence while Shubman Gill tasted his first loss as a captain.

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CSK start the IPL 2024 with two straight victories

Gujarat Titans wanted to bowl first after winning the toss which didn't go well for them. CSK got off to a flying start with new skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and New Zealand star Rachin Ravindra adding 62 runs for the first wicket. Gujarat looked clueless in the powerplay although they got the wicket of Ravindra in the sixth over. The left-handed young opener once again provided his side with a fiery start but couldn't reach his first half-century in the Indian Premier League as Rashid Khan dismissed him for 46 (20).

Sai Kishore was quick to dismiss Rahane (12) and provide his side with another wicket. Ruturaj also failed to get to his well-deserved half-century as he was caught behind on 46. But, the middle-order batters didn't throw away their wickets and helped their side put up a mammoth total on the scoreboard.

Shivam Dube (51), who was not out in the last game started his inning where it was left off. He struck the GT bowlers all over the Chidambaram Cricket Stadium and completed his half-century in only 22 deliveries. He hit 5 sixes on his way to reach it and set the perfect stage for the next batters to put something huge in total. Sameer Rizvi finally got his chance to come into bat and he didn't waste it. The young batter scored 14 off just 6 deliveries, hitting 2 massive sixes while Ravindra Jadeja (7) and Daryl Mitchell (24*) did the finishing touch. Fans couldn't see MS Dhoni in action with the bat as he further demoted himself in the order.

None of the GT bowlers were economical. Rashid Khan did get two wickets but he conceded 49 runs in his 4-over spell. Mohit Sharma bowled a tight last over but could only manage to pick up 1 wicket. Sai Kishore and Spencer also picked up 1 wicket each. CSK put up 206 runs on the board with the loss of six wickets and to chase that amount of runs that too in Chennai, proved to be a hell out of work for the Titans.

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Chennai started brilliantly with the bowl too as Deepak Chahar sent both the Gujarat openers to the dugout inside the powerplay. Wriddhiman Saha only managed to score 21 off 17 deliveries before Chahar dismissed him. Skipper Shubman Gill (8) once again had a poor outing as he was trapped for lbw in the third over. Sai Sudharsan tried to solve the situation but GT kept losing wickets from the other end. 

Sudharsan scored 37 runs before Pathirana got his wicket and he proved to be the top scorer of the GT batting unit. Vijay Shankar (12) and David Miller (21) once again failed to add much to the scoreboard and it happened to be a disastrous performance from last season's runners-up. Gujarat Titans could only manage to score 143 runs in 20 overs and lost the game by a huge margin of 63 runs.

Ruturaj's CSK make it 2-on-2 in #IPL2024

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.#CSKvsGT #CSKvGT #IPL24 #CSK #GujaratTitans pic.twitter.com/0wedeU7Nfr

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) March 26, 2024

For CSK, Deepak Chahar picked up 2 wickets, leaking only 28 runs in his 4-over spell. Mustafizur Rahman (4-30-2) once again bowled beautifully and got 2 wickets. Tushar Deshpande who was the only weak link from the last match, redeemed himself by bowling a sensation 4-over spell. He only conceded 21 runs in his spell and scalped the wickets of Miller and Omarzai (11). Mitchell registered his first wicket in the IPL while Pathirana picked up 1 wicket on his return to the playing xi. Ravindra Jadeja didn't get any wicket in his 2-over spell but it wasn't necessary. CSK are now top of the table with 2 victories in 2 straight games.