‘If I had to lose, I'd rather lose to him’ - Hardik Pandya expresses emotions after CSK defeat GT to clinch fifth IPL title

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 came to a fitting end with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) winning their fifth title by defeating the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets in the final on May 30 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Having been asked to bat first GT scored a mammoth 214 runs on the back of a commendable batting performance from Sai Sudharshan (96) but due to rain interruption, the target for CSK was 171 in 15 overs which the five times champions eventually chased on the final ball.

The defending champions had been among the best sides in the IPL 2023 and it would have certainly taken something special to defeat them. Hardik Pandya expressed his feeling by stating that he was proud of the way the team performed and also if he had to lose the title to anyone then he would rather lose to CSK skipper MS Dhoni. The star Indian all-rounder also went on to express that good things only happen to good people.

"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. God has been kind, God has been kind to me as well but today was his night," Pandya said at the post-match presentation.

We win together, we lose together: Pandya

The GT skipper also went on to accept that CSK played better cricket in the final and they deserved to win. The 29-year-old also told that GT had a motto that they win together, they lose together. Pandya even went on to congratulate Sudharshan for the knock that the southpaw played in such a pressure game.

 ‘I think we tick a lot of boxes as a team. We play with a lot of heart, really proud of the way we kept fighting. We have a motto - we win together, we lose together. I'm not going to make excuses, CSK played the better cricket. We batted really well, special mention to Sai (Sudarshan), not easy to play that well at this level. We have been backing the boys and trying to make sure we get the best out of them. But their success is their success. The way they have put their hand up and delivered - Mohit, Rashid, Shami everyone," Pandya concluded.