Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets (DLS method) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday, May 29. Batting first after losing the toss, GT posted 214/4 as Sai Sudharsan slammed 96 in 47 balls. Chasing a revised target of 171 in 15 overs, CSK got home off the last ball in stunning fashion. With 10 needed off two balls, Ravindra Jadeja struck Mohit Sharma for a six and a four to lift CSK to their record-equaling fifth title win.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Moody opened up about Gujarat’s loss and said, “I must admit I was surprised to see GT lose this final. They were my favorites going into it. They had most bases covered in all departments. Their batting was strong and diverse and deep. They were also probably the most consistent side throughout the whole season, winning the most number of games.”

The 57-year-old also hinted that GT’s loss to CSK in Qualifier 1 might have played on the team’s minds during the final. The cricketer-turned-coach added, “I just wonder whether the first game in the playoffs against Chennai, where they lost that game so significantly, was still at the back of their minds – playing against a side that they knew that had just beaten them up recently. Chennai had their eye on the target and found themselves lifting another trophy.”

Moody, however, went on praise Gujarat Titans’ bowling outfit, terming the performance by the bowlers as the defining factor behind the team’s success. The Aussie said, “The most defining moment is their bowling dominance. You only have to look at the wicket-takers in the whole IPL and look at who heads the list. Led by Mohammed Shami, you’ve got Rashid Khan right up there. You’ve got Mohit Sharma right up there. It tells you that they are dominating with the ball.”

Mohammed Shami was the leading wicket-taker in IPL 2023 with 28 wickets, followed by Rashid Khan and Mohit Sharma, who picked up 27 scalps each.

–By A Cricket Correspondent