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Well, it's 3 AM and we're mentioning Coldplay songs. That seems like our cue to finally bid adieu. So, this is Pratyush Rohra, signing off on behalf of my partners, Soorya Sesha, Shashwat Kumar, and the rest of the crew at Sportskeeda. We hope you enjoyed our coverage as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. Goodbye and goodnight for now!
It was these two sides that kicked off the 16th edition of the IPL close to two months ago. Tonight, they've brought down the curtains on the tournament, perhaps slightly later than they would have liked but they've got it done. The Chennai Super Kings have got it done. You're not going to see anything like this ever again, a final being completed at 3 AM. Well, the crowds are only just starting to make their way out, which sums up the craze of the sport in this country. It knows no bounds, does it? Well, we absolutely love it. Well, the ground staff deserve a shout-out for their work in the last 48 hours or so, making sure we get a proper end to this fantastic tournament. In the end, as Chris Martin would sing, "It was all yellow."
Jay Shah and Roger Binny are ready with the trophy. MS Dhoni comes around but so do Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja. It's Rayudu and Jadeja who are asked to receive the trophy first before Dhoni joins in. It is passed on to the rest of the team, confetti bursts in the background and the Men in Yellow bask in glory again! 'Everywhere we go...we are the Chennai boys making all the noise!' - yeah that's their team song and they chime to it yet again at the end of yet another triumph. Proper scenes at 3 AM with young Matheesha Pathirana, who has grown into such a pivotal cog in this side, holding the trophy. And now, the kids join in - there's Ziva with the trophy as the entire team poses for a picture. Ravindra Jadeja's daughter is also there - oh these are proper pictures. The captaincy saga last year, the possibility of no Jadeja in CSK to the man himself finishing it off before Dhoni lifted him in celebration of a jaw-dropping heist that was scarcely believeable - is this CSK? Oh you bet it is! This is as CSK as they can get. Defying odds, overcoming setbacks and storming back in style like only they can. You can hear the whistles go long and hard into the night...sorry, morning in Chennai and all over the word wherever there's Yellove!
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings captain): It's better if you ask and then I reply. If you see circumstantially, this is the best time for me to announce my retirement. The easy thing for me would be to say I'll be back but I have to put in the effort for 8-9 months. The body has to hold up. I've got so much support, so I feel like if I can be back, it will be my gift to them. You get emotional, it's the last part of my career. When I walked down, the whole crowd was chanting my name. There were some tears in my eyes and I wanted to just stand in the dugout and enjoy it. I know I didn't get it in Chennai in the final came They love me for who I am and being grounded is part of that. They feel like they can play the kind of cricket we do. I think they relate to me. I never want to portray myself in a way I'm not. So, that's why. [Special] Every trophy that you win is special in its own way. We play a team game, so the whole team needs to be up there. When it comes to the crunch games in the IPL, you want the individuals to be ready. I don't think we started in the right way and there were lapses throughout. When the bowling department didn't do their work, the batting department took the pressure off them. I do get frustrated but I try to step into their shoes. The way everyone handles pressure is different, so it's important to realize that so they perform when you're there and even when you're not there. Ajinkya is experienced, so you're not worried about them. The special thing about Rayudu is that if he is on the field, he gives his hundred percent every time. The other thing is that we will never win a fair play award with him in the side because he reacts too quickly. He has been a fantastic cricketer. We played in India A together and is somebody who played fast bowler and spinners really well. He's also like me, doesn't use the phone a lot. He had a fantastic career and it's important to enjoy the next part of his life.
Stephen Fleming, the head coach of Chennai Super Kings, collects the winners' medal before the skipper MS Dhoni collects the winners' cheque. And now, time to hear the man himself...
The Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra will collect the runners-up medal before skipper Hardik Pandya collects the cheque. What a season they've had! So nearly pulled off a double in as many years but then, such is sport! So much to be proud of and we have a behemoth franchise in the making alright.
Let's hear from the Gujarat Titans skipper, Hardik Pandya: We ticked a lot of boxes. We played with your hearts and have always been a team that has stood together and backed each other. Really proud of the way we played this season. No one gave up. We win together, we lose together, no different today. I'm not one of those guys who is going to make excuses. CSK played better cricket than us. Our batting was special. Special mention to Sai - someone that young to come to this stage and play an innings like that, he's going to do wonders in his life. We've always been about creating and backing boys and making sure we get the best out of them. Their success has been their success. The way they have prepared and taken responsibility - Mohit, Lala and Rashid - the way they have put their hand up...special mention to the coaching staff - they've had sleepless nights in ensuring the boys are in a good frame of mind. Can't ask for anything more. I'm very very happy for him as well. Destiny had this written for him. If I had to lose I don't mind losing to him as well. I can't ask for anything better. I mentioned this last year as well - good things happen to good people and he's one of the best there. God has been kind to me but he's given him a little more today (smiles).
The match officials and the umpires are now being handed out their momentos. Nitin Menon, Rod Tucker, KN Ananthapadmanabhan and Jayaram Madanagopal were the officials for this game. It wasn't the easiest for them with the rain around, but they did a solid job to make sure we get a game eventually.
Shubman Gill ends as the leading run-getter for IPL 2023. He walks away with the Orange Cap having tallied - wait for it - 890 runs. STAGGERING!
Mohammed Shami is the leading wicket-taker in IPL 2023. He wins the Purple Cap this season, bagging 28 wickets. His teammates, Rashid Khan and Mohit Sharma weren't far behind with 27 wickets each. Let's hear from Shami: [Powerplay responsibility] The ones who watch enjoy it but doing it is a lot more difficult. It's a lot more responsibility with only two fielders outside the circle. If you do well, it's always nice. [Red-ball and white-ball] There is a bit of difference. Even I'm human (laughs). Doesn't matter if there's a white ball or a red ball, you have to hit the right line and length.
Delhi Capitals win the Fairplay Award. Ajinkya Rahane, a former DC player himself, collects it on their behalf.
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Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
