Head coach Stephen Fleming of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) praised Ravindra Jadeja after the all-rounder propelled the side to victory with a brilliant cameo in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 final against Gujarat Titans (GT).
While admitting that Jadeja has had a trying 18 months due to the CSK leadership controversy and physical concerns, Fleming stated that the versatile cricketer is a gun player who delivered on the big day.
With 10 required off the final two balls, Jadeja (15* off six) smashed Mohit Sharma for a six and a four to lift CSK to an astonishing triumph in the IPL 2023 final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
Fleming discussed the ups and downs of his career over the previous few of seasons in a post-match news conference.
He stated:
“It [his performance] was a pretty good one today. It’s probably been a difficult 18 months where the captaincy was difficult. The injury was difficult. It took a bit of time for him to be out of the game and come reinvigorated in the Test game and then reintegrate into CSK. He plays a great role with the ball. But we have so much firepower, that sometimes we use him lower down the order. But something had to give.”
“MS [Dhoni] has been really supportive and proactive in getting him up there and today he repaid that faith.” Fleming added, “The six, in particular, off a ball that was very close to perfect was defining, and then a good left-hander straight drive through fine leg was a great way to finish it. I couldn’t be more happy for him. Yeah, there has been some frustration at times, but he is a gun player. No.1 ranked player and today he delivered.”
Batting first after losing the toss, GT posted 214/4 thanks to Sai Sudharsan’s 96 off 47 balls. Devon Conway top-scored with 47 off 25 balls as the team chased a revised goal of 171 in 15 overs. Noor Ahmad (2/17) got Gujarat back into the game, but Jadeja finished brilliantly.
“Ambati Rayudu has been an absolute legend” – CSK coach Stephen Fleming
The CSK-GT summit encounter was also Ambati Rayudu’s final IPL appearance. Before the final, the cricketer declared his resignation from the T20 competition. Rayudu was instrumental in the chase, hitting two sixes and a four in his 19 off eight balls.
Fleming praised the 37-year-old, saying:
“Ambati Rayudu has been an absolute legend. I rate him so highly as a batter and that over today, three balls against Mohit Sharma – one of the most in-form death bowlers… the way Rayudu hit him for 6, 4, 6 was pure class. He will leave a hole, there’s no doubt about it. But, the game keeps moving and he’s identified that mentally and physically and even looking around the room that it’s time to go. We respected that.
“For him to go out like that was pretty emotional with the group and for him as well. I am really pleased for him.”
Rayudu finished his IPL career with 4,348 runs from 204 matches at an average of 28.23 and 22 fifties.