GT vs CSK: Deepak Chahar attempts to mankad Vijay Shankar in Qualifier 1 as CSK find themselves in command

As Chennai Super Kings locked horns with Gujarat Titans in the first Qualifier of IPL 2023, the MS Dhoni-led side found themselves in command mid-way through the second innings. While the CSK bowlers kept the GT batters bound with their disciplined bowling, Deepak Chahar even attempted to mankad Vijay Shankar in the 14th over to further push GT against the wall. However, he withdrew it with a smile, to keep the game on. 

Chahar had already given a breakthrough earlier in the same over by getting the dangerman Shubman Gill caught at deep square leg by Devon Conway. Gill, who had scored 42 runs before his departure, seemed to be the only ray of hope in the fallen unit of Gujarat's batting. Notably, Chahar had also struck earlier to dismiss Wriddhiman Saha in the second over of his spell, to give GT their earliest setback of the innings. 

Cricbaaz@cricbaaz21

12:13 AM · May 24, 2023

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Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana and Ravindra Jadeja starred with the ball to dismantle Gujarat's chase. Gujarat kept losing wickets at regular intervals to proceed towards handing the match to Chennai. While Chahar finished his four overs quota with impressive figures of 4/29, Theekshana and Jadeja got even better with equinumerous wickets (two each) claimed against 28 and 18 runs respectively, bowling four overs each.

Earlier, Vijay Shankar was left out of the starting playing XI, only to be brought back in the second innings as Gujarat's Impact Player. Shankar had an impressive stint in the middle in the previous encounter against Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he, along with Gill, guided Gujarat to a thumping victory.

Ruturaj Gaikwad's startling innings give CSK the perfect headstart 

Being put to bat first on their home soil, CSK took off to a solid start as guided by their openers, to earn an early edge over Gujarat. Ruturaj Gaikwad slammed yet another half-century to lead CSK's assault. He played 44 balls and scored 60 runs off it before being the first CSK batter of the day to fall. His innings was brought up at a strike rate of 136.36, courtesy of seven fours and one six. Devon Conway too scored 40 runs off 34 deliveries.

For GT, Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma picked up two wickets each, whereas Darshan Nalkande, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed each grabbed one scalp.