The first qualifying match of IPL 2023 between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans was played on Tuesday 23 May, which saw Mahendra Singh Dhoni led CSK win by 15 runs. Batting first, Chennai put 172 runs on the board for 7 wickets in 20 overs. For the team, Ruturaj Gaikwad played a brilliant innings of 60 runs off 44 balls. After this entry, Gaikwad broke a special record held by RCB’s Virat Kohli.
Gaikwad’s innings included 7 fours and 1 sixes. So far 4 matches have been played between Gujarat and Chennai and Ruturaj Gaikwad has scored half a century in all matches. Gaikwad has scored 278 runs in 4 innings against Gujarat at an average of 69.5 and a strike rate of 145.5. Whereas, Virat Kohli has scored 232 runs in three innings against Gujarat at an average of 116 and a strike rate of 138.1. During this, he has scored 1 century and 2 half centuries.
Gaikwad has scored more runs against Gujarat than Kohli. The first league match of IPL 2023 was played between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings, in which Gujarat won by 5 wickets. But in this match, Chennai opener Gaikwad had won everyone’s hearts by playing a 92-run innings. Gaikwad has so far played innings of 73(48), 53(49), 92(50) and 60(44) against Gujarat in four matches.
After losing the first qualifier against Chennai, Gujarat Tatins have another chance to reach the final. The team will play its second qualifying match on Friday, May 26 at the Ahmedabad Stadium. The team that will face Gujarat in this match will be decided through the knockout match to be played between Lucknow and Mumbai on Wednesday 24 May. The team that wins this match will play the second qualifier against Gujarat.