IPL 2023 Playoffs, GT vs CSK: 3 reasons why Gujarat lost the Qualifier 1

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) registered a comprehensive 15-run victory over the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 1 to enter the IPL 2023 Final.

With another quality knock from Ruturaj Gaikwad (60 off 44), CSK posted 172/7 after being put in to bat first. Devon Conway also continued his form and scored a vital 40 runs.

In reply, Gujarat's chase never got going. They lost both Wriddhiman Saha and Hardik Pandya inside the powerplay as Shubman Gill was left stranded at one end. After making 42, he also perished and CSK sealed the game.

Although Rashid Khan, with his 16-ball 30, gave a mini scare to the Chepauk crowd, he also holed out as GT could only make 157/10 and lost the game by 15 runs.

They will now face the winner of the Eliminator between the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Mumbai Indians (MI) in Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad.

The defending champions were far from their best and would look to come back strong in the next game. If not, they will get eliminated from the tournament.

On that note, here are the top three reasons why GT lost Qualifier 1 against CSK.

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#3 Scoring 170+ in the first innings put CSK in a pole position

Ruturaj Gaikwad played some fine strokes vs GT on Tuesday [IPLT20]

Gujarat's bowling is perhaps the best bowling unit among all 10 teams in IPL 2023. However, CSK batters negotiated them brilliantly and piled up a score which made them favorites after the first innings.

Although GT has been a brilliant chasing side, CSK batters knew that the surface at the MA Chidambaram Stadium will go slower as the game progresses. Hence, it was important for CSK not to go berserk right from the start but build their innings with a measured approach.

Ruturaj Gaikwad played a match-winning knock. His 60 runs off 44 put CSK in a pole position and laid the platform for a great first-innings total.

Once they got 172 on the board, CSK knew that it is going to be their territory. The MS Dhoni-led side inflicted early blows and choked the GT batters out in the middle phase with spin.

Dhoni knows how to bring the best out of his bowlers and did it admirably in the crunch tie. GT was always behind in the game, which led to their downfall.

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#2 Team selection

Some of Hardik Pandya's decisions were questionable vs CSK [IPLT20]

Gujarat made one change for the game as they brought in youngster Darshan Nalkande for Yash Dayal in the starting XI.

However, given that the match was played in Chennai, they were expected to include two local lads in Sai Sudharshan and R Sai Kishore. The GT management, however, thought otherwise and gave Nalkande his first match of IPL 2023 in the playoff game against CSK.

Although Nalkande was unlucky to overstep when he took the wicket of Gaikwad in his first over, the 24-year-old pacer turned out to be the most expensive bowler on the day. In his four overs, he leaked 44 runs and took only one wicket.

With Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed, the two wrist spinners, in their team, GT hoped that they would wreak havoc. However, as the second innings suggested, it was the finger spinners who extracted enough turn and help off the surface. That's where Sai Kishore's left-arm spin could've been fruitful for the defending champions.

As for Sai Sudharsan, who plays his domestic cricket for Tamil Nadu, he too could've been tried out. Sudharsan, who has been impressive in the handful of opportunities he has got and averages above 40 with the bat, is a top-order player who likes to milk the bowling. A player of his style would've certainly been vital at his home ground.

GT also shuffled their batting order. Vijay Shankar, who scored an important fifty in the last game against Bangalore, was demoted to No.6 while Dasun Shanaka batted at No. 4. Unfortunately for them, Shanaka once again failed to make a mark and was out for 17.

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#1 Losing their way in the run-chase

GT lost their way in the run-chase vs CSK [IPLT20]

After CSK put 172 runs on the board, it was necessary for Gujarat to win the powerplay overs. Unfortunately for them, the loss of Wriddhiman Saha and Hardik Pandya dented their run-chase.

However, GT's star Shubman Gill was resilient in the middle and kept the runs coming from one end. He slowly took GT's innings to 70 when he added 31 runs with Shanaka.

When the Sri Lankan hit Maheesh Theekshana for a four and six in the 11th over, it seemed like the match was well-balanced.

However, the visitors lost their way after the 11th over mark. Losing four important wickets in the span of just 26 more runs, GT completely fell off the cliff and handed CSK the match.

After Shanaka lost his wicket playing a reverse-sweep, Ravindra Jadeja sent back the dangerous David Miller with a straight delivery.

However, CSK gave GT the killer blow when an in-form batter in Gill holed out at the boundary in the 14th over, bowling by Deepak Chahar. Rahul Tewatia was also bamboozled by a quicker delivery by Theekshana, which meant that GT went from being 72/2 to 98/6.

It was CSK's game to lose from there on and when Vijay Shankar and Rashid Khan were dismissed in two consecutive overs, the crowd exulted with joy.

Interestingly, this was the first-ever instance of GT being bundled out in an IPL game. The batters needed to apply themselves on the crease, but the pressure of the required run rate forced them to make mistakes at crucial junctures.