Chennai Crowned Champions in Last-Ball Thriller

[00:00:00] You're listening to The T20 Podcast with Ayaz Memon in association with Lloyd Khyal

[00:00:06] Joe Garbo Gharbanaik.

[00:00:11] Chennai are champions once again.

[00:00:15] Ravinder Jadeja has hit the winning runs needed 10.

[00:00:19] From the last two walls to beat defending champions Gujarat and he hit a 6 and then a 4

[00:00:24] and broke into celebrations running across the Narendra Modi Stadium to celebrate a

[00:00:29] truly amazing comeback for the team from 9th last season to champions this year with

[00:00:35] me of course, if Ayaz Memon, Ayaz the script is just written differently when he's

[00:00:41] involved isn't it?

[00:00:42] Sometimes you wonder who writes your script don't you because I mean look as you mentioned

[00:00:47] from 9th position last year to becoming winner this year winning the title and the way

[00:00:52] he's kind of maneuvered.

[00:00:54] It almost seems as if there's some you know some divine handwriting the script but having

[00:00:59] said that let's also say that you know despite making a lot of mistakes in this final Chennai

[00:01:05] made a lot of mistakes you know especially in the batting not in the batting as much

[00:01:09] as in the bowling and fielding giving Shuman Gillan early chance allowing in many ways Gujarat

[00:01:16] to make 200 plus and then chasing it down despite being distracted by rain whatever

[00:01:21] have you know whatever else you have I think it was quite extraordinary and it seemed when

[00:01:25] you look back now it seemed almost ordained from the time they started this campaign to

[00:01:29] the way they finished it.

[00:01:31] That is through we will discuss all about this match in just a bit let me just take you

[00:01:35] all through the scores and for the last time this season this one's going to take a little

[00:01:38] bit of time.

[00:01:39] All eyes were on Shuman Gill when the match started as they've been for the last two weeks

[00:01:44] as Amazonie elected to put Gujarat into bat first after winning the toss and it's if

[00:01:51] you wanted a front row on why Dhoni is called Captain Kool the first five overs would have

[00:01:56] showed you why as Deepak Chahar first dropped a sitter of Shuman when he was on three and

[00:02:01] then later missed what would have been a brilliant catch of his own bowling to get Gill out

[00:02:06] making the most of his many lives Gill and his partner Dithiman Sahib got the team to 62

[00:02:12] for none in six overs and that is when Amazonie took things into his whole hands literally

[00:02:19] a lightning fast thumping of Jadeja's bowling and he made sure Chennai got finally got

[00:02:24] rid of Gill but this was the day Gujarat's other top order batter stepped up sahavent

[00:02:29] on to complete a half century but the real star of the show for Gujarat was Sai Sudarshan

[00:02:35] has gone under the radar sort of with Gill shining all season but today given the chance

[00:02:41] he made the most of the spotlight that he had smashing 96 of 47 to help the team post 214

[00:02:49] Chennai's chase was just three balls in when rain decided to play a part in Mondays proceedings as

[00:02:55] well and after hours were lost Chennai's revised target was 171 in 15 overs challenge accepted

[00:03:02] said Devankonway and Rudraj Gai Kward 4s and 6 is floored from their bats Rashid Khan was hit

[00:03:08] for 17 runs in the fourth over and after six Chennai were going strong at 72 for no loss

[00:03:14] noor Ahmed though got Gujarat twin breakthroughs in the seventh over Gai Kward out first and then

[00:03:20] Karnway out 4 balls later and Chennai suddenly found themselves at 78 for two after seven overs

[00:03:26] Ajin Kerahani showed he understood his assignments smashing Josh Little for two sixes in the first

[00:03:32] over he faced before hitting a few of Rashid Khan also in the tenth over scoring 13 that 13 runs

[00:03:39] Mohit Sharma though got him out in the 11th on 27 of 13 and then Chennai was 118 for 3 in 11

[00:03:47] needing 54 from 24 balls the table's good if turn then but Shivam Dube and Umbhati Raya

[00:03:53] do smashed big big sixes of Rashid of Mohit Sharma but when Raya do got out Chennai needed 22

[00:04:01] from 14 and that's where it started getting a little close and misdony entered but got out on a first

[00:04:07] ball duck it came down to 10 needed off two and Ravinder Juddhi Jove was at the crease he hit a six

[00:04:14] he hit a four and there were just sprinting celebrations where the rest of his team had to catch

[00:04:19] old of him somewhere in the other boundary line where he was sprinting and celebrating with the crowd

[00:04:23] at the Narendra Modi stadium I asked you know Drain definitely played a major role in this match

[00:04:28] I mean we're supposed to finish what on Sunday it finished on what Tuesday now but a player that

[00:04:33] you think you know had a really big influence on this result till the last over I thought I would

[00:04:38] choose two from the Gujrat team one was Sais Tuzarshan and the other was Mohit Sharma maybe a third

[00:04:43] no ramad he also bold quite superbly you know three overs for 17 runs picked up a couple of

[00:04:48] wickets when it mattered very heavily I mean they had to come back into the game after that

[00:04:53] lovely start fine start given by Devon Kanve and Ghaikwar and then finally they end up losing

[00:04:59] despite having the best batting performance and the best bowling performances so this can happen

[00:05:04] in sport I thought that Chennai just moved you know in fits and starts but they never let

[00:05:11] they never lost sight of their target when they were chasing runs 15 overs 172 to get always

[00:05:17] possible but not easy and I thought you know picking a man man with a match really tough

[00:05:23] man you'll have to help me today there's so many outstanding performers and none of them actually in

[00:05:28] many ways belong to Chennai the winning winning game so yeah I mean you know what stood out for me

[00:05:34] and let me mention a few outstanding things that happened with the Chennai players my instinct really

[00:05:38] stomping you talked of lightning fast and that was a very important wicket of Gilles I thought

[00:05:44] Jadeja bold quite well except the last over and yeah I mean you know I think and Devon Kanve

[00:05:51] and Ghaikwar amongst the best opening players we've seen in the tournament and they gave that start which

[00:05:56] helped them you know traverse the initial overs very easily you're very well so I mean

[00:06:03] I mean real mighty fix I would you know actually go for two youngsters and neither of them is from

[00:06:09] the winning side one size result and the other is no remit just for their relative inexperience

[00:06:14] well it's good to see you narrowed down to two players at the end by the end of the season

[00:06:19] I just have to also ask you know I mean rain I just mentioned earlier as well it was a match that

[00:06:23] was supposed to be played on Sunday now we're at what 2am on Tuesday um you know the rain that

[00:06:30] you know I mean I think at toss only Dhoni said that you know there is going to be rain during

[00:06:35] sometime during the second half of this match so he sort of knew I think it had a lot a lot

[00:06:38] to do with his decision also to you know maybe put Gujarat into bat know the score that they'll

[00:06:43] be chasing and then when Duckworth Lewis came in that you know they're all I mean the score

[00:06:47] went from 214 to 171 eventually who do you think it played in favor of the ring?

[00:06:55] I think in favor of Chennai I mean you're marginally not by too much because remember Gujarat had

[00:07:00] made 214 so that was a mighty score even if the deal the deal method comes in it doesn't

[00:07:08] it's not that their target shrunk into half even you know so I think it was it was tough

[00:07:14] when they were going to chase but what helped them I think Chennai is that if you have a slightly

[00:07:18] wet outfield it's not easy for the bowlers to grip the ball batting may become or less become

[00:07:24] a little easier but Gujarat had great depth in bowling it's just that a couple of their best

[00:07:30] bowlers went for plenty I mean Rashid Khan was you know Mald if I might use the word in this match

[00:07:37] amongst the most important matches of the tournament and I thought even Mohit Sharma he picked up

[00:07:42] three wickets and including Dhoing for a golden duck but he also went for plenty and that's when

[00:07:49] you know Chennai's chase became really you know serious so to speak with Amrita Raidu and

[00:07:56] and Shivam Dube getting into the act otherwise they was Dube certainly was struggling

[00:08:01] and it seemed at that point in time that Chennai might lose the match but hey I mean that's all

[00:08:06] obviously made up for such a great great final. That is true and we're talking about the final today

[00:08:12] I think what more than two months almost two months after we actually were talking about the first game

[00:08:16] of the season in March we've seen a lot happen there's been 10 teams of course you know Chennai like

[00:08:22] I said earlier as well finished ninth last season and they won the title this year Gujarat were the

[00:08:27] defending champions you know this time round after winning last year in their first season Chennai of course

[00:08:33] qualified for the final first Gujarat took a longer route to the final despite finishing on top

[00:08:38] of the league stage but at the end of it all I asked do you think you know the best team won this title

[00:08:44] this time round well you have to say that when they win the final and they remember they beat

[00:08:48] they beat Gujarat in the qualifiers there's another perspective let me look at it this way if

[00:08:53] we just go by statistics Gujarat had the highest run get up and the three bowlers who were the top

[00:08:58] we could take a ball from Gujarat in the tournament they've Maham Chami there was Rashid Khan and then

[00:09:03] there was Mohit Sharma so they had outstanding performers but at the end of the day you know

[00:09:09] they didn't win the title and that's finally what Madhya doesn't it I'm just also going to talk

[00:09:14] about a few individuals in this match I know we can't talk about everybody but just somebody

[00:09:17] right who he announced his retirement I mean his decision to retire from this tournament

[00:09:24] on Sunday before what was to be the for the final on Sunday and then you know he said this time

[00:09:28] I cannot show you there's no coming back from me you know he entered today he entered the chase

[00:09:34] when 55 were needed from the last 25 balls he scored in 8 ball 19 and by the time he got out 22 were

[00:09:41] needed of 14 and then there was massive hope that okay this can really happen I mean might not

[00:09:47] have played a really big role in the season but you know I mean even yeah so you know I mean it's

[00:09:52] a nice way it's a nice farewell to one of the one of the nice you know nicer players on the circuit

[00:09:57] yes and a very dangerous player always very attractive to watch you know Ambuji Rido we hit the

[00:10:03] scene in India or Indian cricket when he was 16 17 I think and he was really the next big thing

[00:10:07] after certain tendruka that's how highly he was rated as a youngster then he lost his way he's

[00:10:12] had his you know ups and downs in his career he's had some tips he has had some controversies

[00:10:18] but he's you know tidied over all of them and actually I would I must say is you can't ask for

[00:10:23] a better send off then winning the title with the team he's served so well he's played for a few

[00:10:29] other franchises but I think finally his association with Chennai run the deepest.

[00:10:35] There's to I mean you're talking about final season I hope this is not a final season for Ajinkar

[00:10:40] Hane I mean not many would have thought he would play you know a very very key role in the final

[00:10:44] or play many matches this season but that's how it's worked out for Chennai with them with many

[00:10:48] injuries but you know 27 or 13 two big sixes to you know boundaries as well I mean that's not

[00:10:53] an Ajinkar Hane we would have known a couple of months back but it's nice to see this for side

[00:10:57] of him and it's probably some aside that could do well in the Chennai franchise in the coming years

[00:11:02] as well maybe. Yes most certainly I mean if in some ways also given them a leg up and he's got

[00:11:07] into the Indian testing though I think his experience as a test player mattered a lot more than

[00:11:12] just his form in India T20 league but even so if you make runs and you make them authoritatively

[00:11:18] then you catch the attention of the selectors and that's what happened to Ajinkar but in this

[00:11:23] in this match too I mean I think the game plan was so sound yes Chennai did struggle

[00:11:29] but I think they read it well that they needed you know after a good flying start they needed

[00:11:36] contributions from all the other batsmen maybe 10 12 15 18 20 runs but if it came in good time

[00:11:41] you always on you know on the road to a win so Ambacilaydu playing eight balls making 19 runs

[00:11:51] you know 20 27 of 13 for Ahane Jadeja coming in and hitting a 6 and a 4 to win the match I mean

[00:11:58] the only guy who actually missed out was Zoni golden duck but you have to give him credit that

[00:12:03] you know for despite getting out to a golden duck he's finished on top you know and the legend

[00:12:11] the legend of M.S Zoni continues growing further skywards actually we do have to talk about M.S Zoni

[00:12:16] we can't like wrap up this podcast season without talking about M.S Zoni I mean what magical season

[00:12:22] he's had it's not it's not you know an optimum season it's not the only we've seen for decade

[00:12:27] I mean for years but you know he's managed to sort of adapt or the team has managed to sort of

[00:12:33] adapt around what he can still give them because as a captain there's like 60% of what he brings

[00:12:39] to the table he's at the captain and then he's amazing work behind the behind the stunts like we

[00:12:45] saw with that big big Shobman Gilwicket I do not know what would have happened if that stumping hadn't

[00:12:50] happened at that time so you know there's a I mean it's it's it's in a it's a man I mean I think

[00:12:55] you know we what I'm trying to say it all these years we've seen Chennai you know

[00:13:00] benefit from Dhoni being amazing and I think this is one of the first season where we're seeing

[00:13:05] Dhoni benefiting from Chennai being amazing but that's how it should be isn't it I mean you

[00:13:11] he's kind of molded and mentored this team there were so many questions raised about

[00:13:16] you know some of the players like more in Ali coming into the team

[00:13:19] oh but he's passed his prime and so on Ajinkya Rhaan being included

[00:13:23] this season and the last and you know some of the other choices even Devin Conway

[00:13:28] a lot of people I could you know when when he was chosen by the franchise there were a lot of

[00:13:32] smirks as to you know Devin Conway basically looks like a test match player what is he doing in

[00:13:39] T20 cricket and so on and so forth Shivam Dubeh he's got a new lease of life so I mean I think

[00:13:45] a number to you right do as we've talked about him but he's had his best years with with this

[00:13:50] franchise so I think Dhoni has done a lot for the team he's meant a lot to many of the players

[00:13:56] so many of them owe their careers or revivals of their careers or at least advancement of their

[00:14:01] careers to him and if in some way now it benefits MS Dhoni in his you know the title that he's

[00:14:09] got and he's covered so be it but I think you know I hope people stop asking the question when

[00:14:14] I go to retire because I think what's happened this season is we've seen that he's not

[00:14:20] the greatest finisher that he used to be he's now essentially limiting himself quite

[00:14:27] thoughtfully a thought to playing 8-10 ball innings wherever he can and trying to optimize the runs

[00:14:33] in that space of time that he has in the middle but he's there all the while to be as the captain

[00:14:41] which makes such a huge difference as an influencer in how the match transpires so being you know

[00:14:47] this whole impact player thing has made I think given him a little elbow woman a little leeway to be

[00:14:52] part of the team further longer I mean you know he's made this statement that there's still 8-9

[00:14:58] months to go before the next season starts getting underway or you know team start practicing so he's

[00:15:03] got a lot of time to think about it but yeah I mean there's no hurry and at some stage all good

[00:15:10] things must come to an end so he will retire but I think he's just he might he's just going

[00:15:16] to do it on his own terms or let's just so we'll be talking about him in the podcast next season as

[00:15:20] well I know we've really really overshot the time of this well podcast but just one question I know

[00:15:26] we've spoken about a lot of Chennai players today but there is I mean Shubh Mangil also has had a

[00:15:31] crazy season we've talked a lot about him but just let's just talk about Mohit Sharma before

[00:15:35] we wrap things up what 14 matches 25 Vickies third highest Vickie take off the season not just for Gujarat

[00:15:42] also Gujarat's third highest but just off the season as well I mean this was a player who was the

[00:15:46] net polar for Gujarat last season I mean you know I mean he's he's done so much for India and then

[00:15:51] to just let his ego aside you know just allow him to you know make use of that opportunity and just

[00:15:57] bowl in the nets from where he got picked and now you know what he's one of their what he bowls

[00:16:02] the last over I know he didn't have the most ideal of overs you know overs to finish the season but it's

[00:16:08] just such an amazing story right it is it is one of the Marvelous comeback stories of the league

[00:16:14] not just in this season but if you look at the history of the India T20 league you'll find very few

[00:16:19] such stories I mean at the start of this season it seemed that I think there are many might be

[00:16:24] that player the comeback man you know the the manner in which he played and kind of put himself back

[00:16:30] into the limelight but Mohit Sharma for a sheer control for his and for the for the the skills

[00:16:37] that he brings the back of the hands lower delivery which Fox the best batsman and almost almost

[00:16:44] Gujarat the match even even this final so you have to acknowledge that he's done extremely well

[00:16:51] here a good you know binobulent captain and a team management I thought which pushed him into

[00:16:56] the team very early he's played 14 or 15 matches he didn't play all the matches but they didn't

[00:17:02] keep him waiting on the sidelines for too long which is an advantage and then Mohit delivered so

[00:17:07] you know you have somebody who put the repose the faith in you and you repay that faith I think

[00:17:11] it's a win win for both that is true and this is usually the time where I say I'm going to ask you

[00:17:16] one last question and review the game for tomorrow but this time we don't have any match to talk about

[00:17:21] tomorrow it's been a great two months talking cricket with you IR 74 matches we managed to do

[00:17:27] one one match across three days as well but thank you so much for taking time out across these three

[00:17:32] months or two yeah two little over two months and being part of our podcast thanks manera it was

[00:17:38] a pleasure I think we've had we've had some great matches and we've had some great conversation

[00:17:42] thank you for that that was today's episode of the t20 podcast with Ayaz Meman in association

[00:17:49] with Lloyd Kayaaljo Garpo Garbanae this is a quint original podcast exactly produced by

[00:17:55] Shelley Walia and Ritru Kapoor this episode was hosted by Menra Dorgi Sahani produced and

[00:18:01] edited by Pratik Lidu and Anjali Palod and a special thanks to our guest Ayaz Meman

[00:18:08] you were listening to the Quince podcast