IPL 2022, CSK vs GT, Top Performances: Miller's superb 94*, Rashid's cameo of 40 keep GT at the top

IPL 2022, CSK vs GT, Top Performances: David Miller's 94*, Rashid Khan's 40, Ruturaj Gaikwad's 73 and Dwayne Bravo's 3-22 are top performances.

David Miller, Rashid Khan added 70 runs for 6th wicket, GT beat SR (Images ©BCCI/IPL)

Brief Scores: GT 170/7 (Miller 94*, Rashid 40, Bravo 3-23) beat CSK 169/5 (Gaikwad 73, Rayudu 46, Joseph 2-34, Shami 1-20) by 3 wickets

Player of the Match: David Miller (94* off 51 balls)

The table-toppers, Gujarat Titans (GT) were up against defending champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) who had just opened their account in their previous game, at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune on Sunday night.

On winning the toss, Gujarat Titans opted to bowl first. In the absence of regular captain Hardik Pandya due to injury, Rashid Khan was leading the troops. While the Titans handed debut caps to Wriddhiman Saha and Caribbean pacer Alzarri Joseph, Chennai made no changes in their playing XI.

Gujarat Titans continue to be table-toppers with fifth victory

Chennai didn’t have a great start, losing couple of wickets in the powerplay with just 39 on the board. But the 92-run partnership between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ambati Rayudu, both of whom were struggling so far in the tournament provided a great platform to the Super Kings. Although Gujarat pulled it back in the back end of the innings, the 12-ball 22 cameo by CSK skipper Ravindra Jadeja fired them to 169/5 in their 20 overs.

The Gujarat Titans didn’t have a great start being reduced to 48/4 in the eight over before David Miller came to the rescue with an outstanding innings of 94* with full support from stand in captain Rashid Khan at the back end to collect their fifth victory in IPL 2022.

Let’s look at the top performances from GT and CSK game, IPL 2022:

Miller raises bat after scoring half century (95*) against CSK, GT move to top (Images ©BCCI/IPL)

‘Killer Miller’ and stand in captain Rashid Khan carried Gujarat over the line

It wasn’t a great start for the Titans as they lost three quick wickets in the powerplay for just 16 runs. But the hope was still alive as South African David Miller walked out to bat who had gained some form in the last encounter.

David Miller loves Chennai as he had 255 runs in just 10 innings with couple of fifties against them. He went into beast mode soon, both against the pacers and spinners; he also cracked 21 runs off 11 balls against Jadeja; against the left arm spinner, Miller now has 108 runs off 62 balls at a strike rate of 174.2 in IPL.

The left-hander who was bagged for INR 3 crores in the mega-auction registered his 11th IPL half-century from just 28 balls. He kept the onslaught going till the end, finishing with unbeaten 94 runs off just 51 balls to take the Titans home.

On the other hand, stand in captain Rashid Khan played an absolute golden knock of 40 off just 21 balls to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Even though the onus was on Miller, someone was required to support him. At one point, the Afghanistan all-rounder was on 8 off 12 balls.

But in the 18th over, Rashid slapped Jordan for 23 runs, courtesy of two sixes and two boundaries; before the innings, Rashid had 0 off 1 ball against the same bowler. Even though, he was sent back soon after that, his little cameo was one of the reasons for Titans to gain their fifth IPL victory.

Read More: IPL 2022, GT vs RR, Top Performances: Hardik Pandya 87*, Ferguson's 3-23 take GT top of the table

Ruturaj Gaikwad scores half century (73) against Gujarat Titans, GT move to top (Images ©BCCI/IPL)

Ruturaj Gaikwad got back his lost form with a 48-ball 73

It had been a disastrous season so far for Ruturaj Gaikwad with the bat as he had just 35 runs in five innings in the competition. But great players always know how to turn it around and Gaikwad, playing at his home ground, gained his lost mojo back.

Even though Chennai struggled in the powerplay with just 39 runs on the board, a total of 30 runs came off Gaikwad’s bat from just 22 balls. He kept the run-flow going in the 92-run partnership with Ambati Rayudu who supported him well. With a single in the 12th over, Gaikwad who was retained by Chennai for INR 6 crores, notched up his eighth IPL half-century.

He slapped Lockie Ferguson for 18 off just 9 balls; against the Kiwi pacer, he now has unbeaten 56 runs from just 29 balls. Later on, in an effort to fire up the innings, he was dismissed on 73 off just 48 balls. Chennai had never lost before this match, when Gaikwad had scored runs between 20-99. Also, he now is the highest Indian run-scorer with 947 runs after 28 IPL innings.

Gaikwad surely has got his lost spark back.

Read More: IPL 2022, CSK vs RCB, Top Performances: Uthappa 88, Dube 95*, Theekshana's 4-33 give CSK first win

Dwyane Bravo takes 3-23 against Gujarat Titans, GT move to top (Images ©BCCI/IPL)

Dwayne Bravo bowled an inspiring spell in tough phases

Dwayne Bravo had been called in the 13th over of the innings and he straightaway got rid of the dangerous Rahul Tewatia for the second time in IPL history; the left-hander had just 25 runs off 19 balls against the medium pacer.

The planning was on target for the star pacer who kept on bowling wide out of the reach of the batters. After spending just four runs in the 17th over, Bravo came back to dismiss red hot Rashid Khan in the 19th over to grow new life for Chennai. It was first time he had the better of Rashid in IPL.

With the wicket of Alzarri Joseph off the very next ball, Bravo finished with 3-23 in his four overs, including a maiden.

IPL 2022 Points Table, GT move to top

IPL 2022 Points Table, Gujarat move to top

What’s to come

Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, both of whom had lost their last games, will lock horns at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on April 18 in an evening game.

Here are some of the top twitter reactions from GT vs CSK game, IPL 2022:

Read More: IPL 2022, SRH vs GT, Top Performances: Williamson, Pooran help SRH chase 162; GT drop to 5th place