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'Ahmedabad Kings are back' - Fans react as GT keep IPL 2024 playoff hopes alive with 35-run win over CSK

CSK now need to win both of their upcoming matches and hope that LSG and DC don't get more than one win in their last two games to qualify for playoffs.

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Jerin K Tomy
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Shubman Gill (Source: BCCI)

Shubman Gill (Source: BCCI)

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Gujarat Titans (GT) hosted Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Match 59 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 to keep themselves alive in the tournament. Given their performance so far, Shubman Gill and Co. were expected to be the third team to be eliminated. However, the situation was quite the opposite in Ahmedabad as the GT skipper led from the front to clinch a clinical 35-run victory.

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CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad opted to field first and thought of having a crack at the GT openers. However, Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill showed their intent right from the start and carried it almost till the end of the innings. Boundaries were raining at the Narendra Modi Stadium as the duo clobbered the CSK bowlers with some serious power-hitting.

The hosts crossed the 100-run mark in the 10th over with both the openers scoring at equal pace. Eventually, the contest turned out to be between Gill and Sudharshan to see who would score a century first. Gill was the first to bring up the landmark in the 16th over and he celebrated in a very aggressive manner. A few balls later, the left-handed batter also notched up his maiden IPL century.

CSK finally managed to claim their maiden wicket in the form of Sudharsan, but their 203-run stand left the visitors well behind in the contest. Gill too fell apart quickly as CSK applied breaks to the scoring rate, conceding only 41 runs in the final five overs. At one stage it looked like GT would cross the 250-run mark, but their brilliant death bowling restricted the home team to 231.

Daryl Mitchell and Moeen Ali's brilliant rescue could not help CSK

Chasing a big total, CSK openers were expected to provide a blazing start, but they gifted GT an early wicket in the form of a run-out in the very first over. Rachin Ravindra’s comeback did not work and an out-of-form Ajinkya Rahane maintained his consistency with another cheap dismissal. Umesh Yadav took skipper Gaikwad's wicket in the third over and GT completely got the upper hand.

When it seemed like CSK are going to bottle the chase, Moeen Ali and Daryl Mitchell stood tall to give their fans a ray of hope. The two added nearly a 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Mitchell, who was under fire for his poor run of form, made a superb 34-ball 63, while Moeen scored 56 off 36. However, GT managed to get rid of the duo in quick succession and thereafter did not let CSK gain control. 

CSK would have qualified for the playoffs if they had won this match and the remaining two matches. Now they need to win both of their upcoming matches and hope that LSG and DC don't get more than one win in their last two games. Both can reach 16 points and then everything will be decided based on net run rate.

Here's how fans reacted to GT's thumping win: 

IPL 2024 Chennai Super Kings Gujarat Titans