Editorial
Chennai’s Fabled Championship Victory in IPL… the legend grows… bigger and better !
The much-awaited IPL 2023 ended with a big title clash between the defending Champions Gujarat Titans against the most successful team of the IPL – the CSK. Crossing several insurmountable odds, the Chennai team has achieved a stupendous task of winning the 5th IPL title. Out of 10 times in the final, CSK won 5 times and that shows the perseverance of this team. While accomplishing the seemingly impossible task of scoring the target 171, arrived by the questionable D/L method (Duckworth–Lewis–Stern), where the target is fixed, based on the available resources of the chasing team. Though it is widely believed that the D/L method heavily favours the chasing team and that is not the case always. Here, if we take the average of around 11 runs per over (actual average is only 10.75 runs per over), the convincing target could be 162 or 163. But the D/L method gave the stiff target of 171 in 15 overs to chase. So the chasing CSK forced to score 11.40% per over. This mammoth target added enormous pressure to the batsmen. However, the spirited Chennai team with its impressive array of hitters like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Shivam Dube, Ajinkya Rahane, and Ambati Rayudu took the challenge bravely. Finally, the all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja helped the CSK to win by hitting the almost impossible 10 runs from the last two balls. Irksomely ridiculed as a ‘Daddy’s Army’, the Dhoni-led ‘experienced’ team has successfully conquered several tough situations to reach the final and impressively grabbed the trophy. First, in the league stage, they had a misfortune of losing a point due to rain. Again, in the final, their innings was disrupted by the rain. The CSK fielding on the final day was unusually pathetic. The bowlers, on their part, gave too many loose balls. Above all, some of the TV commentators and expert opinion makers keep on giving ‘biased views’ against the CSK. Finally, crossing all the physiological and psychological hurdles, the steadfast Chennai team won the title with style. Here, we have to give full praise to the Gujarat Titans. The defending Champions fought well literally till the last ball and gracefully accepted the defeat with a smiling face. With this victory, the CSK upset the Titans’ Applecart and reiterated their storied journey to continue forever in the exciting IPL arena. What a game…. What a chase…. And what a finish!
By
Editor-in-Chief
INSTANEWSGRAM