‘Chennai, we are coming’ – Fans react as defending champions GT qualify for second consecutive final with a 62-run win over MI in Qualifier 2

The defending champions Gujarat Titans have made it into their second consecutive IPL final after defeating five-time champions Mumbai Indians by 62 runs in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Batting first, GT posted a huge total of 233 runs for the loss of 3 wickets, powered by the third hundred of the season by Shubman Gill. In reply, Mohit Sharma picked up a five-wicket haul as MI were bowled out for 171 runs in 18.2 overs.

Gill and Wriddhiman Saha gave a flying start to GT by adding 54 runs for the first wicket in 6.2 overs. Saha got out after scoring 18 runs off 16 balls with three boundaries. After that, Gill and Sai Sudharsan put up a partnership of 148 runs for the second wicket. Gill took charge in the middle overs smashing bowlers like Akash Madhwal, Chirs Jordan and Piyush Chawla. Madhwal, who was the hero of MI in the last game by taking 5 wickets of just 5 runs ended up conceding 52 runs in his four overs against GT.

Gill completed his 100 on the first balls of the 15th over in just 49 deliveries. The 23-year-old got out in the fifth ball of the 17th over after smashing 129 runs of just 60 balls hitting seven fours and 10 sixes. This third hundred for GIll in the ongoing season in the last four matches. With this, the star young batter also became the highest run scorer of the season.

Gill’s century helped GT to go past 220 runs in their 20 overs. Sudharsan got retired out after scoring 43 runs off 31 balls hitting five fours and a maximum, while the skipper Hardik Pandya added the finishing touches as he remained unbeaten on 28 runs off 13 balls with two fours and two sixes. For MI, Akash Madhwal and Piyush Chawla took a wicket each.

MI lost early wickets in a big chase

Chasing the winning total, MI didn’t have a great start as they lost Nehal Wadhera in the very first over of the innings. An over later, skipper Rohit Sharma also lost his wicket as GT got a second breakthrough at the score of 21 runs. After that, Cameron Green and Surykumar Yadav put up a partnership of 51 runs. Green got out after scoring 30 runs off 20 balls with two fours and two sixes. After his wicket, Suryakumar tried to take his team down the line by scoring 61 runs off 38 balls with seven fours and two sixes but got out in the 15th over.

At last, MI was bowled out in the 19th over with 62 runs short of GT’s total. Mohit Sharma bowled a deadly spell as he scalped 5 wickets by conceding only 10 runs in 2.2 overs, while Mohammed Shami and Rashid Khan took 2 wickets each, and Joshua Little put one in his bag.

GT will now face the four-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the title clash of IPL 2023 in Ahmedabad on May 28th. CSK made it into their 10th final by defeating GT by 15 runs in Qualifier 1 in Chennai on Tuesday. Now, GT will be looking to settle scores with CSK by winning their 2nd consecutive title.