CSK vs GT, IPL 2023, Qualifier 1: Vijay Shankar feels losing wickets ...

Title-holders Gujarat Titans fell short by 15 runs to lose Qualifier 1 against Chennai Super Kings in the IPL on Tuesday, and GT batter Vijay Shannkar believes it was the wickets his team lost in the middle overs that cost them the game.
Chasing CSK's 172/7 on a slow pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, GT were bowled out for 157, which took MS Dhoni & Co into their 10th IPL final.
"I think we could have chased better, we could have got the game much closer," Shankar said after the match.

The GT chase was derailed by the CSK spinners, who squeezed the run flow in the middle, with Ravindra Jadeja and Maheesh Theekshana keeping things tight and also picking up wickets.
"I think they (CSK) bowled pretty well in the middle overs. The middle overs are very, very important for any team that is chasing. We lost wickets. Otherwise, if you see, we lost by 15 runs.
"If two batters were batting, things would have been different. It is just about losing a wicket at the wrong time. Maybe a partnership of 20, 30 runs in the middle could have got us closer to the game," Shankar said.

He was asked about the shuffle in the batting order. Shankar had batted brilliantly against Royal Challengers Bangalore a few days ago at No.3 but came in at No.5 against CSK with his team at 88/4.
"Actually, if you see overall in this season, all the batters have played in different positions. So it is not just this game... most of the games..."
"I think that was the strength of our batting unit as well. Whoever went in different situations, we were able to adapt to it and get runs for the team," he added.
"When you lose a wicket and when you lose a game, things will look odd that we have changed a lot and all. But we have been playing like this overall right from game 1 until now. I think we have shuffled our batting according to the conditions and situations and we have done well."

Shankar and Rashid Khan managed to revive GT's chances before their dismissals put paid to their hopes.
"Even the over that I got out, I felt I could have calculated a little better. I could have targeted in a better way. So it was a great learning for us. I think we have won a lot of games chasing and this is one of game that we had," said Shankar, who this season has scored 301 runs at 160.11 in 12 matches.
He was optimistic of the team doing well in Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad where it will take on the winner of the Eliminator between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants.

"I think till now, we have been playing a lot of home and away games. So it is just about going there and adapting to our conditions as quickly as we can. And overall, we've been playing wonderful cricket. So one game won't change much. So it is just about regrouping and coming out and giving our best for the team," he added.
Gujarat will get another crack at entering the final when they take on the winner of Eliminator between Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2.

(With agency inputs)