Twitter Reactions: Gujarat Titans kick off IPL 2023 in style with decent victory over Chennai Super Kings

The reigning champions Gujrat Titans started the Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL) campaign with a thrilling five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in the first match on Friday, March 31. Shubman Gill's 63 off 36 canceled Ruturaj Gaikwad's 92 off 50 as the Titans chased the 179-run target with four balls to spare to help the Titans record a straight third win over the Super Kings.

Hardik Pandya won the toss for Gujarat and elected to field first at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. Irish youngster Joshua Little and Indian pacer Rajvardhan Hangargekar made their IPL debuts and made an instant impact for their respective teams.

Mohammed Shami gave the Titans a flying start with Devon Conway's big wicket in the third over with just 14 runs on the scoreboard. But Gaikwad gave the Super Kings an escape route with an explosive start. He pulled off a 36-run stand for the second wicket with Moeen Ali. Rashid Khan kept his team in control with Moeen and Ben Stokes' valuable wickets.

But Gaikwad smashed a quick 23-ball fifty and kept the runs flowing from one end. He smashed 92 off 50 with the help of four fours and nine sixes before getting out in the 18th over. Skipper MS Dhoni ended CSK's innings with a six and a four in the last over to post a challenging total of 178/7. Rashid, Shami, and Alzarri Joseph picked two wickets each for the Titans but Hardik and Yash Dayal struggled for the wickets with costly spells.

The veteran wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha gave the Titans a quick start with two sixes and two fours in the first four overs but was dismissed on Hangargekar's delivery in the fourth over with Shivam Dubey taking a brilliant catch. But in-form Gill was patient with his shot selection in powerplay overs and produced a fine partnership with Sai Sudharsan for the second wicket.

Hangargekar picked his second wicket in form of Sai in the tenth over and Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Hardik on just eight runs in the 13th over to balance the game. But Gill accelerated his approach and smashed 63 off 36 to drag his team closer to the target.

But once again, CSK bowlers balanced the game with Tushar Deshpande, who came as an impact player, dismissing Gill in the 15th over. Hangargekar put the Super Kings in a driving seat for the first time with Vijay Shankar's wicket in the 18th over who scored a crucial 27 off 21. But Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia changed the momentum in the last two overs with big shots and recorded a five-wicket win with four balls remaining. 

Here is how Twitter is reacting to Gujarat Titans' win over Chennai Super Kings:

Niall John O Brien@niallnobiobrien

Amazing to experience tonight’s atmosphere @IPL twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

10:31 PM · Mar 31, 2023

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Lisa Sthalekar@sthalekar93

.@rashidkhan_19 loves stepping up when his team needs him the most. Did with the ball earlier tonight, now with the bat…can he get it done for the @gujarat_titans? Love the IPL!!

11:35 PM · Mar 31, 2023

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Sam Billings@sambillings

What a game to start @IPL 👏🏼

11:37 PM · Mar 31, 2023

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S.Badrinath@s_badrinath

Inexperienced pace attack a big concern for #CSK. Good win for GT #IPL2023

11:42 PM · Mar 31, 2023

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zaheer khan@ImZaheer

What a thriller to start the season! Lack of impetus at the death and inability to make inroads with the new ball hurt CSK in Ahmedabad today.

11:53 PM · Mar 31, 2023

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Anil Kumble@anilkumble1074

Fantastic play by @Ruutu1331, @ShubmanGill and @rashidkhan_19 in the opening game. Congratulations to @gujarat_titans on the win. The tone is set for an exciting tournament. #IPL2023 #GTvCSK

12:00 AM · Apr 01, 2023

515

Ravi Shastri@RaviShastriOfc

O Captain ! What a Captain ! @msdhoni @ChennaiIPL #GTvsCSK #MSDhoni𓃵

09:16 PM · Mar 31, 2023

10.9K1.8K

Mr.ᴠɪʟʟᴀ @AchajiOk

Ruturaj Gaikwad telling BCCI why he is known as Prince in Csk 🔥 #IPL2023 #GTvsCSK

08:18 PM · Mar 31, 2023

2.5K265

🔰@AdityaS_Indian

The whole stadium wanted this six from MS Dhoni. 🫶🥹 #MSDhoni𓃵 #GTvsCSK

09:33 PM · Mar 31, 2023

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Sir BoiesX 🕯@BoiesX45

23 Balls 50 For Young Talent Ruturaj Gaikwad 🤯 #IPL2023 || #GTvsCSK

08:27 PM · Mar 31, 2023

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DHONI Era™ 🤩@TheDhoniEra

200* IPL sixes by Thala Dhoni for CSK !! 😍💥 @msdhoni #IPL2023 #GTvsCSK

09:47 PM · Mar 31, 2023

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Akshat@AkshatOM10

Rashid Khan finishing things off for Gujarat Titans. 🔥 #GTvsCSK

11:35 PM · Mar 31, 2023

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Johns.@CricCrazyJohns

Well played, Ruturaj Gaikwad. Missed out a well deserving hundred by just 8 runs but what a knock, 92 runs from 50 balls.

09:13 PM · Mar 31, 2023

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Rahul Trehan@imrahultrehan

Three wickets in his debut #IPL2023 game for Rajvardhan Hangargekar - 3/36 in 4 overs. Amazing start of IPL career by this young talent. #RajvardhanHangargekar

11:38 PM · Mar 31, 2023

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IndianPremierLeague@IPL

Maiden wicket in IPL for Rajvardhan Hangargekar! 👏 👏 That was a special moment for the @ChennaiIPL youngster! 👌 👌 A brilliant catch by @IamShivamDube 👍 👍 #GT lose Wriddhiman Saha. Follow the match ▶️ bit.ly/TATAIPL-2023-01 #TATAIPL | #GTvCSK

10:26 PM · Mar 31, 2023

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Mufaddal Vohra@mufaddal_vohra

Well played Shubman Gill - 63 (36). Continuing his supreme form, a perfect start for Gill.

11:09 PM · Mar 31, 2023

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Peeyush Sharma@peeyushsharmaa

Same story continues in IPL season opener. 2018 - 2023: Six consecutive seasons when team winning the toss elected to field and won the game. #IPL2023 #IPLonJioCinema #GTvsCSK

11:42 PM · Mar 31, 2023

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Andy Balbirnie@balbo90

The newly formed Irish @gujarat_titans supporters club in full flow #IPL2023

09:40 PM · Mar 31, 2023

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