Ravindra Jadeja played a starring role with bat and ball to guide the Chennai Super Kings to a 15 run victory over Gujarat Titans to secure their place in the Indian Premier League final.
Four-time champions Chennai posted 172-7, which their bowlers defended as they bowled out Gujarat for 157 in a play-off match believed to be the 41-year-old Dhoni’s final home match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
On a difficult pitch for batting, Jadeja’s spin bowling yielded figures of 2-18 in addition to his 22 runs, which boosted the Chennai total after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 60.
The sky was illuminated by fireworks as Chennai reached their tenth Indian Premier League final.
“IPL is too big to say it’s just another final,” the captain said on presenter Harsha Bhogle’s question on the Sunday final being “just another final” for Dhoni’s team.
“Used to be top eight teams to compete with the best players available in the world, but now it’s 10 teams, so now it’s tougher. It’s hard work of two months because of which we are standing over here. Lot of character showed by the individuals.”
Dhoni also stalled suggestions that he was about to retire, saying he will take “eight, nine months” to decide on his IPL future.
“The small auction will be around December, so why to take the headache right now. I have ample time to decide,” he said.
Gujarat, led by Hardik Pandya, will have another opportunity to reach the final on Sunday, when they face the winner of the second play-off between Lucknow Super Giants and five-time champions Mumbai Indians.
The spotlight remained on Dhoni, India’s most decorated player, who led his country to two World Cup victories, including the inaugural T20 title in 2007, and mentored younger heroes such as Virat Kohli.
As a tribute to the great cricketer, Dhoni has attracted massive crowds at multiple venues, with many fans donning Chennai’s yellow.
His home stadium was nearly full as fans cheered his every move and he raised the decibel level when he came to bat.
The crowd fell silent, however, when the superstar, who has struggled with a knee injury this season but has not announced his retirement, was dismissed for one off two balls by Mohit Sharma.
Earlier, Gaikwad scored his fourth fifty of the season when he capitalised on a reprieve when he was dismissed on two in the second over, but the delivery was ruled no-ball.
Soon after, he converted Chennai’s modest start into a strong opening stand of 87 runs with New Zealand’s Devon Conway, who scored 40.
Chennai faltered after Gaikwad’s departure, but Jadeja’s 16-ball cameo, which included two sixes, and England’s Moeen Ali’s boundary hit in the final over propelled Chennai to a winning total.
Gaikwad was named the match’s most valuable player for his 44-ball innings and excellent diving catch in the deep.
With his 42, Shubman Gill attempted to propel Gujarat’s chase, but the rest of the batting failed.
“We were quite spot on but we made some basic errors. I felt were were exactly 15 runs short,” said Gujarat skipper Pandya.
Deepak Chahar, who dismissed Gill, and the Sri Lankan duo of Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana each captured two wickets.
Rashid Khan attempted to pull a rabbit out of the hat with his 16-ball 30 but was dismissed in the 19th over, and Pathirana completed the victory with the final delivery.
