Defending a daunting 229-run target, GT struck immediately when Siraj induced an edge from Samson on the very first ball of the innings. CSK never recovered from the early collapse and were eventually bowled out for 140 in just 13.4 overs, a result that also knocked the five-time champions out of playoff contention.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Boucher felt Samson was the one batter capable of mounting a serious challenge in the chase and credited Siraj for executing his plans perfectly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSanju Samson was probably the one batter who could have posed a real challenge for the Gujarat Titans in that chase, so dismissing him on the first ball was a massive moment in the game,\u201d Boucher told Jio Hotstar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cMohammed Siraj executed his plan perfectly, especially on a red-soil surface where he could pitch the ball up and allow it to swing. The line and length were spot on, and he immediately found the edge. That wicket dealt a huge blow to CSK\u2019s hopes because once Samson fell early, they were always going to need something extraordinary to recover from there,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Siraj went on to finish with figures of 3-26, while Kagiso Rabada and Rashid Khan also picked up three wickets each as GT sealed a top-two finish in the points table.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, opening pair of Shubman Gill (64) and B Sai Sudharsan (84) once again laid the foundation for a massive total with a 125-run partnership, before Jos Buttler\u2019s unbeaten 57 off 27 balls propelled GT to 229\/4.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cShubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan stand out because of the consistency with which they score runs and the hunger they continue to show every single game. In an era where T20 batting is often associated with constant innovation and high-risk shots, they rely heavily on strong cricketing basics and proper shot-making,\u201d said Boucher.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, opening pair of Shubman Gill (64) and B Sai Sudharsan (84) once again laid the foundation for a massive total with a 125-run partnership, before Jos Buttler\u2019s unbeaten 57 off 27 balls propelled GT to 229\/4.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The latest century stand between Gill and Sudharsan also saw them equal the IPL record for most 100-run partnerships in tournament history with 10, matching the tally of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n