The battles in the ongoing IPL 2025 (Indian Premier League) are in full swing as the bandwagon of the T20 cricket fiesta approaches the playoffs round with each passing day. But before that happens, some IPL franchises, who are already out of contention for the knockout phase, will be aiming to play the role of party spoilers for the teams looking to finish in the top two and gain an advantage ahead.
Having said that, moving on, Match 67 saw the hosts Gujarat Titans (GT) taking on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Notably, the fixture turned out to be one of the Sunday blockbusters on May 25. After winning the toss, interim CSK captain MS Dhoni decided to bat first. For those unaware, this was the last game of the IPL season for both the Chennai-based franchise and Dhoni as the leader.
Talking Points
1. Ayush Mhatre’s powerplay fireworks
The decision turned out to be in favour of the visitors as they started in blazing fashion during the powerplay overs. Young rising batter Ayush Mhatre (34 runs off 19 balls) batted in Rohit Sharma-like fashion and took apart the GT bowling line-up with his fearless strokeplay. The 17-year-old cracked 28 runs off the left-arm pacer, Arshad Khan, smacking three sixes and two fours in the over to get Chennai off to a flyer.
However, just when he looked in ominous touch, Prasidh Krishna dismissed him in the fourth over. But this did not stop CSK from scoring 69 runs in the powerplay, which was also their joint-highest score in the IPL 2025 edition.
2. Conway and Patel carried scoring momentum
Thereafter, from one end, Devon Conway kept the scoreboard moving, while another youngster who came in as a replacement in the CSK side, local boy Urvil Patel (37 runs off 19 balls), also scored briskly. He showcased his all-round batting by not only flicking Mohammed Siraj for a sumptuous six but also smashing two fours off Gerald Coetzee.
He then took on Gujarat spinners Rashid Khan and R Sai Kishore, before being caught in the extra cover region off Kishore’s bowling. But this did not stop Conway from notching up a vital fifty (52 runs off 35 balls), scoring 21 runs in just 10 balls to make life tougher for the Afghanistan leg-spinner.
3. Brevis full blooded in Death overs
Marching ahead, Dewald Brevis joined the party in the death overs and smashed the GT bowlers all over the park with some inventive T20 shots to relieve pressure off Ravindra Jadeja.
The South African also showcased his ability to hit the ball straight down the ground en route to a classy half-century (57 runs off 23 balls) and was dismissed on the last ball of the CSK innings.
4. Titans Falter Under the Pressure of a Mammoth Chase
As a result, Chennai Super Kings ended up posting a mammoth 231-run target for the Titans. Among notable bowling performances, impact player Prasidh Krishna managed to claim two wickets while conceding just 22 runs in his four-over quota.
In reply to the target, Gujarat Titans clearly looked under pressure and aimed to make the powerplay phase count, just as CSK had. However, they had a forgettable start, losing three top-order batters – captain Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, and Sherfane Rutherford – by the fifth over. The only batter who seemed determined to anchor the innings while keeping the scoreboard ticking was Sai Sudharsan.
5. CSK finish on high with huge victory
As the game progressed, the duo of Sudharsan and M Shahrukh Khan began building a partnership, but only briefly. They stitched together a crucial 55-run stand before Khan was dismissed in the 11th over, and just three balls later, Sudharsan too perished, leaving GT reeling at 86/5. Succumbing to the pressure of the chase, the rest of the GT batters attempted big shots.
However, this not only left Gujarat Titans in disarray and led to a massive 84-run defeat, but also meant they missed the chance of securing two shots at the IPL final, instead forcing themselves into the eliminator game in the playoffs. On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings bowed out of IPL 2025 with an emphatic win. Among the standout bowling performances for CSK, Noor Ahmad and Anshul Kamboj claimed three wickets each, while other bowlers also chipped in. As a result, GT were bowled out for 147 runs.
Meanwhile, here’s what the captains and the Player of the Match (POTM) had to say regarding how the game turned out on Sunday –
Who Said What?
MS Dhoni, CSK (Winning Captain)
It’s good. I wouldn’t say today was housefull, but decent number of crowd. Good to finish on a winning note. This was among the perfect performances. This was one game where the catching was also good. It depends. I have four or five months to decide [whether to play or not]. It’s professional cricket; you have to be at your best. It’s not performances. What’s important is to see how much hunger you have. I have enough time to decide. I’ll go back to Ranchi. I’m not saying I’m done; I’m not saying I’m coming back. I have the luxury of time. When we started the season, the first four games out of six were in Chennai. We won tosses and chased. Second innings, we were under a bit of pressure. So I was more worried about the batting department. Now everybody has contributed. When Ritu comes back next year, he doesn’t have to worry about too many things. Definitely, you feel old [as Suryavanshi touched his feet]. I asked Andre, ‘How old are you?’ And he’s exactly 25 years younger than me!
Shubman Gill, GT (Losing Captain)
The game pretty much went away from us in the powerplay. We never really came back in the game; 230 is a big target. Teams that are already eliminated don’t have anything to lose. We were not able to stay calm under pressure. It’s very important to control runs in the middle overs. If you don’t pick wickets, it’s always going to be difficult and challenging. This one would be a hard pill to swallow for us. But on the bright side, we have two or three important games for us. Fortunately for me, going back to my hometown.
Dewald Brevis, CSK (POTM)
I’m definitely happy. I’m really enjoying and having fun. Just be myself – the kid who has played the game. I just enjoyed it. I kept telling my mind that it’s cool out there. I needed to play an innings like that, and I’m, very grateful for it. For me, a big thing is I’ve got people who advice me. It’s always been a privilege [to be called Baby AB]. He’s someone I’ve always looked up to. It’s an honour to be compared to him.
