What a thriller
All Miller and Rashid as we take leave here. We leave you with a teaser from the final report. Thanks for joining. See you tomorrow.
David Miller played possibly his best IPL innings, 94 off 51, to help Gujarat Titans chase down Chennai Super Kings’ 170 from 16 for 3 and 87 for 5. For the first 17 overs, it was all Miller or bust with just 43 non-Miller runs in 59 legal deliveries. They needed 48 now, and were 4.2% favourites to win. In the 18th, Rashid Khan, captaining in the absence of Hardik Pandya, lent Miller a hand in sensational fashion, hitting Chris Jordan for 6, 6, 4 and 6 to turn it into a routine affair for GT. Dwayne Bravo, though, was to CSK’s second half what Miller was to GT’s innings: he bowled four overs on the trot starting with the 13th for 23 runs and three wickets, but at the other end 60 runs came from 23 balls without a wicket. Bravo’s third was Rashid, leaving Miller 13 to get off the last over with only the bowlers for company. Jordan, though, kept missing his yorker and even bowled a high full toss to let Miller take GT home with one ball to spare.
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Miller does it for GT, Jordan has a nightmare
Despite two dots to start off the final over, Chris Jordan continues to miss his yorker. The third one is in the slot, and Miller hits it for a six over the big leg boundary. The fourth is caught but it is a high full toss, giving them a free hit. Miller deposits the free hit into the midwicket fence. Again yorker missed. Then the low full toss to take a couple of and win. Jordan ends up with figures of 3.5-0-58-0. Miller is 94 off 51. GT have 10 points. They lead the table.
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Bravo keeps CSK in it
That Dwayne Bravo slower ball finally gets the better of Rashid Khan, who went from 8 off 12 to 40 off 21. It grips as it has been doing all along for Bravo, and Rashid is caught in the covers. At 13 off 7, Alzarri Joseph has a free hit. He has to find a boundary, and not worry about running or getting out. He tries but doesn't time this shot down the ground, and is caught at long-off. last over, 13 required, win probability has fallen from 86 to 54. Jordan will continue despite that last over.
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Rashid's whippage
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Captain Rashid Khan unleashes the helicopter against Chris Jordan, who tries to bowl yorkers and keeps missing. Two whips over midwicket with the Dhoni-like helicopter, one scarcely believable slice over the big point boundary, and a four over extra cover. The win probability has gone from 4.2 to 56.2% in that over. Just 23 required in the last two overs.
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Bravo 3-1-13-1
No boundary in the 17th over, bowled by Dwayne Bravo, who has now bowled three on the trot. The slower ball has worked like a charm for him today, gripping in the surface. Now with 48 required in three overs, the win probability is down to 4.2%.
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Theekshana bowls out
CSK go out to Mahesh Theekshana in the 16th over, looking to work with the big leg-side boundary for David Miller, but he finds a pulled six to stay abreast with the asking rate. Now 52 required off the last four. Win probability 11%.
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The Vijay Shankar conundrum
Trust Shiva Jayaraman to put numbers to the struggles of Vijay Shankar in the IPL. Have a read.
"IPL franchises are perennially on the lookout for quality Indian allrounders, so whenever a franchise finds one, they tend to be given a long leash. Teams show more patience with them than with single-skilled players who either only bat or bowl, for allrounders add that often elusive balance to T20 XIs. In leagues like the IPL where there is a cap on the number of overseas players team can play, domestic allrounders are like gold dust.
Shankar is one such player; and he's been given a long leash. He is playing his 51st IPL game today and his involvement in a match over his IPL career is just 16.4 balls on an average (number of total balls in a match he bats and bowls). To give you an idea, Shane Watson – another player who used to bat in the top order and bowl occasionally had an involvement of 28.5 balls per match. A low involvement is not necessarily a good indicator of contribution if it packs impact. For example, Dinesh Karthik’s involvement with the bat since the 2014 season is just 14.2 balls on an average.
But it’s a revealing statistic for someone like Shankar who plays primarily as a batter in the top order who can bowl. Shankar averages 23.5 with the bat and strikes at a modest 122, and with the ball he has taken just 9 wickets at an average of 38.2 and an economy of 8.6. He is yet to win a man-of-the-match award in the league.
Among the 37 players who have batted and bowled in at least one-fourth of the matches they have played since 2014 IPL (when Shankar made his debut), Shankar’s average involvement of 16.4 balls per match is the third lowest. The only active player with the lower number is Deepak Hooda (the other one being Stuart Binny). Another allrounder who has been given a long leash like Shankar. However, Hooda’s currency is on the rise of late because of his handy performances with the bat. Since 2020, Hooda has averaged 33.9 with the bat and struck at 145.7. For Shankar though, the leash might be at its end."
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Bravo pulls GT back
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Dwayne Bravo has brought GT's comeback to a screeching halt with the wicket-maiden in the 13th. The only consolation for GT is that David Miller is still out there. Rahul Tewatia is out, and we already have Rashid Khan in. Win probability is 8% for GT.
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Fifty for Miller
A single-handed effort from David Miller is keeping Gujarat Titans in the game. He has scored 51 off 28 while others, including extras, have managed 27 in 42 balls between them. He has targeted the straight boundaries against spinners, and that on a pitch where their is some grip. Win probability up to 23% with eight overs to go. Eighty-three required.
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GT sink further
CSK keep tightening the screws with tight bowling. Wriddhiman Saha has no option but to hit out. And this is a slow pitch where the ball is not coming on. Don't think there has been much dew either. Saha has pulled Ravindra Jadeja straight to deep square leg. Gone for 11 off 18. GT 48 for 4 in eight overs. Win probability down to 11%.
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Theekshana keeps striking
That's six wickets in his last six overs. He has Abhinav Manohar caught at extra cover, cramping him up as he looks to go down the ground. GT 16 for 3 in 3.5 overs. Win probability down to 15%. Their batting looks thin in the absence of Hardik Pandya, which puts into perspective his restraint with the bat this season.
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Vijay Shankar's horror IPL continues
Not a golden duck, but Vijay Shankar is out second ball. Looking to cut an offbreak from Maheesh Theekshana, he manages just an outside edge as the ball doesn't turn. They are 2 for 2, their win probability down to 24%. Shankar's IPL so far: 19 runs, average 4.75, strike rate 54.28.
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Golden duck for Gill
Classic T20. Short, wide, asking to be hit, Shubman Gill obliges, but he mis-hits it ever so slightly. So instead of going over cover-point, it settles with him. Mukesh Choudhary has Gill. GT 1 for 1 in one over. Their win probability is 31%.
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T20 timeout
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Ambati Rayudu shows intent
This is from Shiva Jayaraman, who has put numbers to Rayudu's better touch and approach today. Here goes:
ESPNcricinfo records data that tries to capture batters’ intent off each ball based on the shots they attempt. Batters are tagged having ‘aggressive’ intent – if they were clearly trying to hit a boundary - or ‘defensive’ intent – when it’s clear that there was no obvious intent to score off the ball. There are also balls that are not tagged as either because the attempted shots do not clearly fall into either category. These are subjective calls by our scorers but the captured data does throw light on a batter’s approach on most days.
Ambati Rayudu’s approach today was clear as daylight – he was looking to score quickly and give momentum to Chennai Super Kings’ innings (they had the worst scoring rate in the first-16 over of the innings before today in this season). In fact, Rayudu was looking to force the pace in CSK’s previous game against Sunrisers Hyderabad as well, but wasn’t able to translate his intent into a decent score.
Data bears this out. In his first-three games this season, out of the 58 balls he faced, he attempted only 13 aggressive shots (22.4%). Against Sunrisers, he attempted 9 aggressive shots in 27 balls (33.3%). Today the number was 11 out of 31 balls (35.5%).
He was clearly looking to rotate the strike when the ball wasn’t there to hit, which meant that out of the 31 balls he played, none of the shots were defensive (clear attempt at blocking the ball). Against Sunrisers, there were only two such blocks off the 27 balls he faced. In three innings before that, he played defensive shots to 15 out of the 58 balls (25.9%). In the end he perished attempting an aggressive shot just four runs short of his half-century, but with a 31-ball 46, Rayudu was able to show his intent on the scorecard in this innings.
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Jadeja finishes big
Two sixes off Lockie Ferguson in the last over from captain Ravindra Jadeja. Both off attempted slower offcutters. One a big one, the other just over the short leg-side boundary. Ferguson has gone for 46 in his four. CSK end up with 169, a target that should test GT in the absence of Hardik Pandya.
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Rashid gets the 19th right
The captain perhaps held himself back for MS Dhoni or he wanted to take the responsibility. At any rate, he is no stranger to bowling at the death. Here he bowls the 19th without a boundary. He misses out on an lbw thanks to a slight inside edge. Projected score 160 now.
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Boundary drought
25 Number of balls CSK went without a boundary leading up to ball 17.4. They have lost all the momentum, and are now 145 for 4 in 18 overs. The projected score now reads 164. Joseph ends up with 4-0-34-2
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Shami, Dayal follow up
4-0-20-1 for Mohammed Shami as he follows up Alzarri Joseph's superb over with another one on the top. He nearly gets Shivam Dube too but replays show a mild scratch on the inside edge, something even Dube didn't feel. He just reviewed for the sake of it.
Yash Dayal comes back in the 17th to get Gaikwad caught at deep square leg with a low full toss. Gaikwad gone for 73 off 48. Projected score 166 now.
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Joseph's comeback
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That excellent over from Alzarri Jospeh has cut down the projected score to 174.
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Joseph executes a plan
A superb comeback over from Alzarri Joseph. He is bowling into the small leg-side boundary but he nails the wide lines. Goes short and wide three times, and just inside the blue line. Ambati Rayudu misses the first two, and when he catches up with the third, the upper-cut settles with deep point. CSK 124 for 3 in 14.3. Projected score 179.
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Rashid goes too
GT are throwing their best weapons at these two batters, but they are taking them down one by down. This time Ambati Rayudu gets stuck into Rashid Khan, who has the big leg-side boundary to work with. However, the moment he pitches short, Rayudu goes back to pull him for a huge six. Plus he puts one in a hole to rin two. He is 46 off 28 now. Projected score 182 now. CSK 124 for 2 in 14 overs. GT need a quiet over badly.
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Gaikwad is in the mood
Now Ruturaj Gaikwad has taken down Lockie Ferguson, one of the quickest bowlers in the world. It was of course a slower short ball after four balls of pressure created with pace. Gaikwad picked it out of the hand and sent him ways above midwicket. And then the yorker went wrong, and Gaikwad drove the low full toss over mid-off. He is 68 off 42 now. Projected score 180.
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Fifty for Gaikwad
It has taken a while coming but Ruturaj Gaikwad is up and running this IPL. He has just brought up his fifty off 37 balls. He switched gears in the 11th over, pulling Alzarri Joseph for a big six followed by Ambati Rayudu lofting Joseph over long-off. And now there is a no-ball from Yash Dayal, and Gaikwad has cashed in on the free hit. CSK are well and truly turning it on past the 10th over. They are 94 for 2 in 11.3 now. Projected total is 173. Gaikwad 56 off 38, Rayudu 29 off 19.
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CSK still struggling to break free
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ambati Rayudu have sort of stabilised the innings, but CSK are just 59 for 2 in nine overs. Gaikwad is 39 off 30, and looking to step up. They have left themselves needing a big kick in the final 10. But this GT attack is among the best. Projected score is 155.
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Alzarri Joseph announces himself
Playing for the first time for Gujarat Titans, Alzarri Joseph has taken out Moeen Ali second ball. Moeen Ali flays at a length ball, looking to go through the covers, but plays it on. Moeen has 87 runs at a strike rate of 124 this IPL. CSK 39 for 2 at the end of the powerplay. Projected score is 153.
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Gaiukwad gets going
Ruturaj Gaikwad has gone past his best score this IPL already. It starts with a charge at left-arm fast bowler Yash Dayal and a flicked six over square leg, and then an edge flies over short fine and then a gift arrives on the pads. All of a sudden he is 24 off 19, and looking and feeling good. CSK 31 for 1 in five overs. Projected score is 156 now.
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Skiddy Shami gets Uthappa
Robin Uthappa has been the most explosive opener in the powerplay this IPL. He is just coming off his IPL best score. But Mohammed Shami has pinged him right in front. On first look it looks like the ball is bouncing over, which is probably why Uthappa has chosen to go across the line, but it skids through and on review it is hitting comfortably. CSK 7 for 1 in the third over. Projected score 151.
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T20 Timeout
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Gaikwad's ordinary IPL so far
Today's Maruti Suzuki ASKcricinfo stat: Which batter has the lowest average at IPL 2022 (min. five innings)?
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Pandya misses out, Wade dropped
Hardik Pandya has a stiff groin, which ha brought out Rashid Khan for the toss for Gujarat Titans. They are not going to risk him. Rashid has done part one of the job. He has won the toss, and Titans will be chasing. They have given out caps to Alzarri Joseph and Wriddhiman Saha. Out go Matthew Wade and Pandya.
CSK are unchanged. They are not going to drop Ruturaj Gaikwad so easily.
Gujarat Titans 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3 Vijay Shankar, 4 Abhinav Manohar, 5 David Miller, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 Rashid Khan (capt.), 8 Alzarri Joseph, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Yash Dayal
Chennai Super Kings 1 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2 Robin Uthappa, 3 Moeen Ali, 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 MS Dhoni (wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja (capt.), 8 Dwayne Bravo, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Mukesh Choudhary
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Ask Cricinfo
Maruti Suzuki ASKcricinfo stat: CSK's vs Titans' bowling economy at the death. Can CSK do some repair work on these numbers today?
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Kings vs No. 1 contenders
Match 29, IPL 2022. Defending champions Chennai Super Kings against the table leaders Gujarat Titans. In Pune. Hardik Pandya's side against Ravindra Jadeja's. Both born in Gujarat. Both revere MS Dhoni. CSK need to get a move on. GT looking to cement their lead. Does Ruturaj Gaikwad retain his place? Does Matthew Wade? We will know soon.
Those of you in the US can watch the action live on ESPN+ in English or in Hindi.
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