Blink and you’ll miss it. (pic credit: sportzpix)
Shubman Gill was first undone by Ravindra Jadeja’s guile, and then before he could even realize MS Dhoni’s quick reflexes, Gill had finished the day’s work
Shubman Gill hit a leg-side delivery from Tushar Deshpande in the second over for a boundary and Deepak Chahar grabbed a sitter at backward square leg.
‘Did Deepak Chahar drop the cup’ – came a tweet as fast as it could.
and for the rest of the time sweetheart Was in the middle, Chahar’s face lit up on the big screen whenever the GT opener helped himself to a four in the IPL 2023 final against Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad.
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In Qualifier 2, Tim David of Mumbai Indians grabbed a difficult chance from Gill at mid-on. Gill demolished MI on his way to this third hundred in four innings.
Gill single-handedly took MI out of the equation.
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Chahar was under pressure, and soon after that drop, he had the ball in hand going into the second over of the match. Wriddhiman Saha knew this was his chance – strike the iron while it is hot – as he disdainfully slammed Chahar over midwicket on the first ball down the track. CSK captain and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni came to the stumps after that shot but Saha knew this was his window and added two more fours in the over – a tight swipe towards midwicket and an inside-out uphill to extra cover. Drive.
To make matters worse for Chahar, Gill hit Tushar Deshpande for three consecutive fours in the next over – each more sublime than the last. Gill was up and running, so Saha and GT6 reached 62/0, with Gill hitting another hat-trick of fours off Mahesh Thekshana.
Will Chahar’s omission ultimately prove to be the most crucial moment in the final – which went into the reserve day?
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But this is CSK, not MI. Dhoni is a master strategist. And he pulled out his ace.
Ravindra Jadeja.
Jaddu was also feeling the pressure after the poor performance and the loss of the captaincy. But this season has been different. Not being in the limelight has helped him put in key performances throughout the campaign.
He starts with a dart to Saha, then a full length slider to Gill. The third ball again hit Gill’s pad. From the fourth, Jadeja changes his position, allowing Saha to get out, but Saha gets it wrong – dot. Another sharp dart and single to midwicket brings Gill on strike for the final delivery.
Gill would have expected another dart on the pads, but Jadeja did this one flatter, but on middle and off length; Gill would have read it early and taken a long swerve to get to the ball early. But, outside the pitch, the ball deviated from its path and, narrowly escaping Gill’s bat, turned sharply onto Dhoni’s gloves; Meanwhile Gill wobbled and lost his shape and tried to drag his back leg.
Jadeja had deceived Gill big-time and Dhoni hit the stumps in a flash – 0.12 seconds to be precise.
Gil looked back; Thoughtfully went to Saha. Leg umpire points for TV replays. Meanwhile, Jadeja looked at Dhoni for confirmation and the skipper nodded so softly that a smile appeared on Jadeja’s face. Gill (20 for 39) was done for the day; it’s falling 83 runs less Virat Kohli holds the record for most runs in a single IPL season in 2016. TV replays told what Dhoni knew, the spectators at the Narendra Modi Stadium knew.
The unstoppable Gill was stopped in the only way he could be stopped this season. Dhoni’s magic and Jadeja’s guile and suddenly the Titans were looking at par with the Super Kings.
