Four-time champions Chennai Super Kings will host defending champions Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023 qualifier 1 at the MA Chidamabaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday (May 23).
Both teams will look for a win to earn direct entry into the final, which is scheduled to be held on Sunday (May 28) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where the loser will get another shot at making the final via the qualifier 2, which is set for Friday (May 26).
Hardik Pandya-led table-toppers GT sealed their spot in the playoffs thanks to 10 wins, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s second-placed CSK clinched their spot for the 12th time in 14 attempts via their victory over Delhi Capitals by 77 runs in their final league stage match. CSK and GT will meet for the second time this season. The two sides met in Ahmedabad in the season opener earlier in March, but have never clashed at the MA Chidamabaram Stadium in Chennai.
GT vs CSK Head-to-Head In the 3 meetings between the two sides in IPL so far, it’s advantage GT, who have won all three matches, including the league stage fixture earlier this season, against CSK. In the earlier meetings, GT first beat CSK by 3 wickets followed by a 7-wicket win and the most recent 5-wicket win.
In Chennai at the MA Chidamabaram Stadium, CSK and GT have never clashed so far, but the hosts CSK, have an experience of playing at their home venue, where they hold a great record overall, but this season’s numbers are not that great.
CSK entered their 10th IPL final across 16 editions of the tournament. Talking about the game, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway guided CSK to 172 for 7 in 20 overs after GT skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bowl first. Gaikwad scored 60 off 44 balls while Conway hit 40 off 34. Ravindra Jadeja smashed a crucial 22 off 16 towards the end. Mohammed Shami was the pick of the bowlers for GT with figures of 2 for 28. In reply, Gujarat were bundled out for 157, thanks to two-wicket each from Deepak Chahar, Ravindra Jadeja, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana.