After Chennai Super King’s fifth win in the IPL 2023, the team’s triumphant captain M.S. Dhoni had not yet ruled out playing in the next IPL season. After lifting the cup, he said, “Circumstantially, this is the best time to announce my retirement. But the amount of love I have received all over, the easy thing would be to walk away from here, but the harder thing would be to work hard for nine months and try to play another IPL.”
“It would be a gift from me, won’t be easy on the body,” he said.
Speaking about the match, Dhoni said, “Every trophy is special, but what is special about IPL is every crunch game you need to be ready. There were lapses today, the bowling department didn’t work, but it was the batting department that took the pressure off them today.”
Gujarat Titan’s Hardik Pandya, despite facing defeat against the CSK said, “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.”
Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings’ middle-order batter Ambati Rayudu said he can afford to smile for the rest of his life after a “fairytale finish” to his cricketing career.
Rayudu, who had announced his decision to stop playing IPL just before the final against Gujarat Titans, said his hard work for the last 30 years has paid rich dividends.
“It’s a fairytale finish. I couldn’t have asked for more. I’m fortunate to have played in really great sides. I can smile for the rest of my life. All the hard work I’ve done in the last 30 years, I’m happy I got to finish on this note. I would really like to thank my family, my father. Without them this wouldn’t have been possible,” said Rayudu after CSK beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL final.
CSK all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who hit a six and four in the last two balls to seal the record-equalling fifth title for CSK, dedicated the win to skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who probably played his last IPL game on Monday.
“Feels amazing, winning my fifth title in front of my home crowd. I’m from Gujarat, and it’s a special feeling. This crowd has been amazing. They were waiting for rain to stop till late night, I’d like to say a big congratulations to the CSK fans who came to support us.
“I’d like to dedicate this win to a special member of the CSK side, MS Dhoni,” he said.
Shubman Gill bags ‘Orange Cap’ for scoring most runs in IPL 2023
Shubman Gill on May 29 became the Orange Cap holder of the IPL 2023 with 890 runs in the season. Gill has ended the IPL 2023 with the Orange Cap on his head, becoming the youngest player to do so.
In 17 matches, he has scored 890 runs at an average of 63.57 and a strike rate of 158.08, with three centuries and four fifties and best score of 129. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Faf Du Plessis claimed the second spot in the tally with 730 runs in 14 innings while CSK opener Devon Conway (672) clinched the third spot. RCB batter Virat Kohli with 639 runs is in the fourth position while Rajasthan Royals (RR) batter Yashasvi Jaiswal is in the fifth position with 625 runs.
He has the second-highest runs by a player in an IPL season. At the top is Virat, who scored 973 runs at an average of 81.08 in 16 innings, with four centuries and seven fifties. Gill has overtaken David Warner, who scored 848 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2016 season, which they won and Jos Buttler, who scored 863 runs for Rajasthan Royals in the 2022 season.
Gill also has the fourth-highest boundary count in an IPL season. He has hit 85 fours and 33 sixes, a total of 118 boundaries.
Mohammed Shami gets ‘Purple Cap’ for most wickets in season
Gujarat Titans (GT)‘s pacer Mohammed Shami walked away with the ‘Purple Cap’ for the most wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 following his side’s loss to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final at Ahmedabad on Monday.
In 17 matches, Shami took 28 wickets at an average of 18.64 and an economy rate of 8.03. He had the best bowling figures of 4/11 in the tournament. This is Shami’s most successful IPL season since his debut back in 2013.
After receiving the ‘Purple Cap’, Shami said, “(On powerplay bowling) It is always enjoyable for the viewers, but difficult to execute. Only two fielders allowed outside, lots of responsibility but that’s my role in the team. If you are bowling in the right areas, you will get rewards - be in red ball or white ball.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
