GT vs CSK, IPL 2023 Highlights: Gujarat Titans win by 5 wickets

Gujarat Titans have started their IPL campaign just how they finished in the previous season. They thrash CSK by 5 wickets.

Rashid Khan smashes back-to-back shots to take Gujarat closer to win. Now 8 runs are needed from 6 balls.

Where will the match turn?

Rajvardhan Hangargekar takes 3-wicket haul on his debut. Gujarat Titans are in serious trouble.

In-form Shubman Gill goes back to hut. Is Gujarat Titans in trouble?

Shubman Gill and Vijay Shankar have stabilized the innings for Gujarat Titans as they take their team closer to chase the target.

Gujarat Titans 3 down as Ravindra Jadeja dismisses hardik Pandya

Gill smashes his 15th IPL half-century in just 30 balls.

After he dismissed Saha, debutant Rajvardhan Hangargekar scalped the second wicket for CSK as he dismissed Sai Sudharsan.

IPL 2023: Who is CSK's debutant Rajvardhan Hangargekar? Here's all you need to know
 

And CSK have called the first impact player of the tournament. Tushar Desphande comes in for Ambati Rayudu.

And the chase is underway at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Gill and Saha are in the middle as they look for a good start.

So, Chennai get 178 in their 20 overs as Ruturaj Gaikwad powered this inning largely. Chennai were dominant till he was there. CSK lost a few early wickets, but Gaikwad continued his carnage. He fell agonisingly short of 100 as he went back for 92 in the 18th over. After that, Dhoni came and hit a couple of boundaries to take them past 170. Good show by CSK but they could have got more. GT applied breaks on CSK's batting in middle overs with Rashid taking two. Joseph picked two as well. CSK were at 121/4 after 13 overs. Dube and Jadeja could not get going as well. So, GT require 179 to begin their title defence with a win.

Chennai have lost a bit more wickets than they would have liked. After Gaikwad, Jadeja and Dube have departed. Dhoni is still out there. Can he help his team finish well?

Ahh! he has agonisingly fallen short of a well-deserving hundred. This was a high full toss as he could not time it well enough to long on. Gill came running in from the fence to grab a good diving catch. Ohh, no Jadeja falls on his second ball. Chennai are losing a little more now. Dhoni now comes in at 8.

CSK are set for a huge score now as Gaikwad is still in the middle. The flow of runs has lowered a bit in the previous overs but they can pick the pace up in the final overs. CSK 133/4 after 15 overs. They should eye something around 185.

The Irish man Joshua Little has his first in IPL. He has cleaned Ambati Rayudu on this off-cutter. Pitched on Good length, Rayudu danced down the track to slog it over long-on. But is beaten well on the outside edge as the ball breaks the stumps. CSK 4 down for 120.

Williamson has done brilliant work at the deep mid-wicket but has hurt himself badly. He has saved a six as he jumped to keep the ball inside. It's a four but Williamson looks in serious pain.

Gaikwad are smacking them far and handsome on the leg side. That is his strength and the GT bowlers are bearing the brunt of it. CSK are past 100 inside 11 overs. Gaikwad is setting a wonderful base.

My God, what a fifty-knock this is by Ruturaj Gaikwad. Full of class, timing, and eye-pleasing hitting. Even though, wickets fell, he is keeping the run rate around 10. Brilliant stuff. I can smell a big knock here. CSK have made 93/2 in 10 overs. This is going to be a hard grind for GT bowlers.

And Rashid has now got Ben Stokes early. What brilliant bowling this is. He was hit for a four on the previous fuller ball. But he pulled his length back and bowled a straighter one, which stayed a bit low too. Stokes wanted to play it to covers but get a nick as Saha takes another good catch.

And Rashid has finally got his man. After surviving two LBW shouts (one of them was given out but saved on review) Rashid has got Moeen. But this time, there is a big edge as he tries to go over extra cover. Saha takes a fine catch behind the stumps. Chennai end the powerplay at 51/2. Joy and pain for both sides in the powerplay. While GT got Conway early, Moeen, and Ruturaj took the bowlers. Rashid appealed for LBW two times, and got hit to a boundary but got Moeen in the 6th over. Ben Stokes comes in.

And even after losing Conway early, Moeen Ali and Devon Conway are playing their shots. They are steading the ship as Chennai are in no time about to reach 50. 15 from 4th over, 17 from 5th. Good fightback this is.

And there's the first. Shami cleans up Devon Conway in his second over. What a ball. Perfect seam position on a good length, angling in as it dodged Conway's bat. The ball shatters the stumps as Chennai lose their first. He has got his 100th victim in the league.

The action has begun in the tournament as Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad are out in the middle. Shami and Hardik bowl the first two overs. Tight over from the former as only 2 runs came from that but Pandya has gone for 2 fours.

CSK's 4 substitutes:

Tushar Deshpande, Subranshu Senapati, Shaik Rasheed, Ajinkya Rahane, and Nishant Sandhu are the four substitutes announced by CSK.

GT's 4 substitutes:

B Sai Sudharsan, Jayant Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Abhinav Manohar, and Srikar Bharatare the four substitutes announced by GT.

Wriddhiman Saha(w), Shubman Gill, Kane Williamson, Hardik Pandya(c), Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Joshua Little, Yash Dayal, Alzarri Joseph

We were also looking to field first. Looks a good wicket and I don't think it will change much. Don't know if there will be dew because it rained yesterday. You want to play in front of people. This stadium is twice the capacity of other venues. Fantastic atmosphere. Our Preparation was good. We assembled quite early. (On impact player) It's a luxury to have. It becomes slightly easy to take the decision because you can use it at any time. Influence of allrounder has become slightly due to this rule.

Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (capt&wk), Mitch Santner, Deepak Chahar, Rajvardhan Hangargekar

We will be bowling first. It's always good to play at this venue. New start, new season, we are quite excited. Almost everyone in the country has got motivation from him (Dhoni). Been a fan and admirer of him. Want boys to enjoy it. Result will take care of itself. (On impact player rule) It's different - I've left it in the coach. Ashu pa (Ashish Nehra) works all night on what needs to be done. I don't know on my team combination. 

Mitchell Santner, Ben Stokes, Devon Conway and Moeen Ali are four overseas players of MS Dhoni's CSK.

Gujarat have won the toss and will be bowling first. 

Toss is coming up. It will be held at 7:10 PM today, instead of the usual 7:00 PM time. Stay tuned, lots of things coming.

Captains of both teams- Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni are welcomed on stage as the fans roar for the two players. Pandya carries the trophy that his side won the previous time and joins the stage. Meanwhile, BCCI administrators Jay Shah and Roger Binny are also present on the stage.

After Arijit Singh and Tamannaah Bhatia's brilliant show, Rashmika Mandanna sets the stage on fire.

Have a look at her performance

Tamannaah Bhatia sets the stage on fire after Arijit's performance. 

Arijit has set the stage on fire. He has sung many Bollywood songs as the fans are enjoying his performance at the Narendra Modi Stadium. 

Here is a glimpse of his performance:

He is taking a lap of honor in front of a capacity crowd at the Stadium. India's flag is behind him, followed by all the franchises' flags. Fans are standing and cheering for him.

Arijit Singh with his melodious voice is performing first. He is making the crowd dive into the music mood. 

His songs of the day:

Aye Vatan Vatan mere..

Lehra do, Lehra do...

Kesariya tera ishq hai piya...

Channa mereya...

Re Kabira Maan Ja...

Tu Mera Koi Na Hoke Bhi Kuch Lage...

Tujhe Kitna Chahne Lage hum...

Jhume Jo Pathan...

Pyaar Hota Kayi Baar Hai...

The opening ceremony has kicked off!! Mandira Bedi gives the welcome speech

The match is likely to be a tough contested one with no team in the mood to give any ground. Super Kings have star all-rounders like Ben Stokes, Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali. They also have the likes of Ruturaj, Devon Conway, Ambati, MS Dhoni and Deepak Chahar. Meanwhile, the Giants also have a strong set-up with the likes of Pandya, Shubman, Wade, Williamson, and Rashid in the squad. This could go anywhere but few believe CSK have an upper hand.

We are less than an hour away from the opening ceremony of the IPL 2023. The ceremony will witness the likes of Arijit Singh, Tamannaah Bhatia and Rashmika Mandana and will start at 6 PM IST. Get ready for some eye catching performances by these stars. 

Fans are excited for the action to unfold. But where will you watch the first match between CSK and GT? There are two different platforms for watching the action live from the comfort of your homes. More on this by Aachal Maniyar

For the ones who love making their own teams, we have got you covered. Ravindra Jadeja, Ben Stokes can be crucial captain and vice captain picks, while Hardik Pandya is a good option too. More on this by Aachal Maniyar

The Narendra Modi Stadium has a variety of pitches and GT are likely to use them according to their strengths. Teams have won more batting second and the average is around 150. It rained the previous night but the rain gods are expected to stay away and watch the action from far. More on pitch report and weather by Aditya Kukalyekar

Meanwhile, captains of both the teams are eyeing major feats in the season opener. Dhoni is set to join a special club, while Pandya's career will get another boost if his bat does the talking in the first match. More on this by Varun Malik

Gujarat Titans look an even stronger side with Kane Williamson, Odean Smith, Shivam Mavi among others. How and where will they play Wriddhiman Saha and Matthew Wade. Also, does Williamson have an automatic entry? More on Gujarat's SWOT by Varun Malik

Chennai Super Kings have Ben Stokes and have boosted their all-round department with the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali already in the mix. However, they might face issue regarding death bowling. Will Dhoni's side bounce back from last season's poor run? More on CSK's SWOT analysis by Kartik Mehindru

Who is going to be GT's face tonight, ask your team Gujarat Titans.

Watch this piece shared by four-time winners Chennai Super Kings

There are a host of new changes for the IPL 2023. They are:

1. An intriguing impact player rule has been introduced.

2. Playing XI's will be decided after the toss

3. Over rate penalty will be given for overs not completed in time.

4. Unfair movement of wicket-keeper and fielder will be penalised

5. Review for no balls and wides

More on this by Aditya Kukalyekar

Hello and a very warm Welcome everyone. It's D- Day as the Indian Premier League 2023 gets underway in its favourite - home and away fashion. Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans face MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. It's mentor against his protege. New season, new rules, and few new players but the same old excitement. Will Chennai bounce back from the previous season's poor run, will Gujarat defend their title? Lots of questions but will only be solved when the action unfolds. So grab your snacks as I Varun Malik, along with my team, try and satisfy your cricket nerd in this long two-month action.