Skip to content 
Ravindra Jadeja’s contribution in the IPL final, where Chennai Super Kings achieved a remarkable victory, went beyond individual statistics. Although he didn’t top the run charts, take the most wickets, or hit the most sixes and fours in the thrilling last-ball encounter that Gujarat Titans lost, Jadeja’s impact was immeasurable. His performance in the match, where he scored a modest 15 runs and conceded 38 runs while taking one wicket, may not have earned him the title of Player of the Match or any of the other accolades bestowed upon outstanding performers of the season. However, in those early hours of the extended IPL final, Jadeja earned something far more valuable and enduring – the trust and faith of the fans and the admiration of the terraces. His contributions will always be remembered by the CSK faithful, not for his individual statistics, but for the crucial role he played in the team’s victory.
All seemed lost for CSK for most of the game’s final over. Gujarat Titans seemed all set to retain the title. Cameos by Conway, Rahane and Rayudu had taken CSK close to the finish line but the final push was needed. Dhoni had failed to be the last action hero. Like in the 2011 World Cup final, he had promoted himself and even walked out with the same purpose as he had done at Wankhede on the magical April night. History wasn’t to repeat itself. Dhoni’s first-ball duck would break the heart of the fans who had painted every stadium where CSK played this season yellow.
With Jadeja and Shivam Dube at crease, Chennai needed 13 in the last over. Mohit Sharma showed unreal poise and bowled four near-perfect yorkers. It now boiled down to 10 from 2 balls. Dhoni had his eyes shut, he couldn’t take it any longer. The camera would move to the stands to show a young girl in tears. Like many around her, she too seemed in an emotional mess. The long-dragging three-day IPL final had taken a toll on those who had stuck around despite the rain delay. The world’s biggest cricket stadium was brimming with tension.
Aloof to the heavy weather around him, Jadeja wasn’t pressing the panic button. He has been around, he has been in these situations before. He played his first IPL final at 19 when he was part of the Rajasthan Royals 2008 Cinderella story. Shane Warne had called him a rock star, they defeated CSK in the final to be IPL’s first champions. As luck would have it, for some time now he has been under the wings of another inspirational captain in Dhoni.
At Ahmedabad well past mid-night as Monday turned to Tuesday, Jadeja did what Dhoni had done for CSK for all these years. He left it for late, he waited for that crucial moment of the chase when the pressure got transferred from the batsman to the bowler. Like his captain, he waited for the bowler to make a mistake. And he did.
After those near-perfect four balls by Mohit, coach Ashish Nehra and captain Hardik Pandya made a costly intervention. Nehra sent in a player with a water bottle and probably a message too. Hardik too gave his two cents. The long chat inside the nervous huddle broke Mohit’s rhythm. GT’s death-overs bowler faltered in length on the fifth ball. It was slightly short of the yorker-length and Jadeja, waiting in the crease, hit to the sightscreen. It could well be the most famous six of his long career. With four needed on the last ball, Mohit missed the line. Jadeja guided the ball on his legs past the short fine leg fielder. The ball crossed the rope, the yellow around the stadium exploded in celebrations.
Jadeja had done a Dhoni. He was running towards the stands, he even forgot to do his ‘swishing sword’ celebration. In a rare show of emotion, Dhoni would lift him in the air. Jadeja could possibly go down in history as the only player to receive this warm a hug from Dhoni. Jadeja would dedicate his knock to the captain and profusely thank the fans for being there for them and ask them to keep cheering for them in the future.
CSK’s man of the moment was being the bigger man, he didn’t let his angst spoil the celebratory mood. Jadeja and the CSK fans have famously not got along. Chepauk hasn’t quite warmed to Jadeja as it has to Dhoni or even Suresh Raina. Over the years, mostly through social media, Jadeja has hinted that he hasn’t got the attention or affection he deserves.
Being the world’s leading all-rounder, an all-format India regular and winner of 5 IPL titles; Jadeja isn’t underestimated by his rivals or undervalued by the franchise but has been under-appreciated by the supporters. It is a grudge he has carried for far too long. At Chepauk while Dhoni and others have been received by ear-splitting whistles, Jadeja hasn’t quite got the same reception.
Mostly batting just above Dhoni, CSK’s fanatics have cynically wished for Jadeja’s dismissal so that they will get Thala’s darshan. After a game when asked why he doesn’t bat higher in the order, he said: “I keep hearing Mahi bhai’s chants. If I bat higher, then the crowd will wait for me to get out.” There have also been whispers about cracks in his relationship with Dhoni. They have a history.
It’s puzzling why Jadeja doesn’t get the applause that he so rightly deserves. His very cerebral art of bowling hardly gets intellectualised, like is the case of his long-standing bowling partner Ravichandran Ashwin. India has failed to acknowledge the feat of an genuine all-rounder whose batting average is better than that of Ian Botham, Kapil Dev, Andrew Flintoff and Shaun Pollock and his bowling figures are better than those of Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, S Venkataraghavan and BS Chandrasekhar.
Back in 2013, Jadeja had tweeted: “Don’t even try and judge me dude. You have no idea what the f*ck I’ve been through.” In a recent interview to The Indian Express, Jadeja was reminded of the post. He didn’t evade the question but gave an answer. “On days when I haven’t done well, they start trolling, calling me names. They say things without knowing the kind of hard work I have done to reach this stage. Small, small things … there are so many struggles and sacrifices that I don’t even remember now.”
He would raise his voice and add: “Those idlers sitting in front of a computer have nothing to do, they sit and make memes and write anything that comes to their mind … See honestly, those things don’t matter to me. If they did, I wouldn’t have reached this far … They have no idea what all I had to go through to reach here. They say he is playing IPL and earning so much money … Believe me, in IPL, they don’t pick you by seeing your face.”
On the final day of the IPL, he showed he certainly wasn’t picked for his face. The 10 runs he scored off the last two balls will go a long way in bridging the distance between him and the terraces. Thala will be around next year, high time Chepauk warms up to CSK’s MVP. To break the ice, they should start calling him Chinna Thala (Little Thala).
Meanwhile, it was Chennai Super Kings equalled Mumbai Indians’ record of five Indian Premier League (IPL) titles after Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side triumphed in a last-ball thriller, beating champions Gujarat Titans by five wickets in Monday’s 29th May-2023 rain-marred final in Ahmedabad.
Put into bat, Gujarat racked up 214-4 after their number three batter Sai Sudharsan capitalised on a strong start and smashed an incendiary 96 off 47 balls that included six sixes.
Unforgettable Moments That Defined IPL History
2008: McCullum’s Explosive Start, Rajasthan Royals’ Triumph:
On April 18, 2008, Brendon McCullum set the stage on fire with an unbeaten 158 off just 73 deliveries for Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bangalore. This innings remained the highest individual score in T20 history for over six years. Rajasthan Royals, led by Shane Warne, clinched the inaugural season by defeating MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in a nail-biting final.
2009: IPL Moves to South Africa:
Due to the general assembly elections in India, the second season of IPL had to be shifted to South Africa. The tournament took place across eight venues in the country. Deccan Chargers, who finished at the bottom of the table in 2008, bounced back to win the championship under the leadership of Adam Gilchrist.
2010: Dhoni Guides CSK to Victory, Lalit Modi’s Exit:
In 2010, MS Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings to their maiden IPL title by defeating Mumbai Indians in the final at DY Patil Stadium. Meanwhile, Lalit Modi, the league’s first commissioner, faced allegations of misconduct, indiscipline, and financial irregularities, leading to his removal from his position.
2011: CSK’s Repeat Triumph, Introduction of Playoffs:
The fourth edition of IPL welcomed two new teams, Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala. Following India’s 2011 ODI World Cup victory, MS Dhoni led CSK to their second consecutive IPL title by defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final. This season also replaced the semifinals with a playoffs system, providing top two teams two chances to reach the final.
2012: KKR Ends CSK’s Dominance:
Under Gautam Gambhir’s captaincy, Kolkata Knight Riders secured their first playoff spot and later clinched their maiden IPL title by defeating Chennai Super Kings in a thrilling final. Sunil Narine’s exceptional performance earned him the player of the tournament award. The number of teams reduced to nine with the removal of Kochi Tuskers after a dispute between owners.
2013: Gayle’s Record-Breaking Knock, Mumbai Emerges Victorious:
Chris Gayle’s destructive innings of 175 not out off 66 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India remains the highest individual score in IPL history to this day. Mumbai Indians, captained by Rohit Sharma midway through the season, went on to win their first IPL championship. The season was marred by the spot-fixing scandal, with players from Rajasthan Royals being arrested.
2014: KKR’s Second Title:
The first half of the season was held in the UAE due to general assembly elections in India. Kolkata Knight Riders secured their second IPL title by defeating Kings XI Punjab in a thrilling contest. Robin Uthappa emerged as the leading run-scorer for KKR, while Sunil Narine took the most wickets. The number of teams reverted to eight as Pune Warriors India were disbanded.
2015: Mumbai’s Second Victory over Chennai:
Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians to their second IPL title, defeating Chennai Super Kings in the final at Eden Gardens. Mumbai became the third team to win the league twice, alongside CSK and KKR. David Warner topped the run charts, and Dwayne Bravo emerged as the leading wicket-taker.
2016: Kohli’s Heroics, Sunrisers’ Triumph:
Virat Kohli’s phenomenal performance continued in the 2016 season as he scored four centuries and seven half-centuries, accumulating a record-breaking 973 runs. Kohli’s efforts propelled Royal Challengers Bangalore to the final, but they fell short against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Despite their loss, Kohli’s exceptional form left a lasting impact on the tournament. The season also marked the introduction of two new franchises, Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions, as Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended for two seasons.
2017: Mumbai Indians’ Odd-Year Hat-Trick:
Rising Pune Supergiants, under the captaincy of Steve Smith, faced Mumbai Indians in the final. Mumbai Indians emerged victorious, winning their third IPL title in an odd-numbered year (2013, 2015, and 2017), becoming the first team to achieve this feat. Notably, the season witnessed the lowest total in IPL history when Kolkata Knight Riders bundled out Royal Challengers Bangalore for a mere 49 runs.
2018: Chennai Super Kings Return with a Bang:
After serving a two-year suspension, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals made their comeback. In a remarkable feat, Chennai Super Kings lifted the trophy in their comeback season, joining Mumbai Indians with three IPL titles. Shane Watson’s century in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad remains a memorable moment from the season.
2019: Mumbai Indians Extend their Dominance over Chennai:
Mumbai Indians continued their rivalry with Chennai Super Kings in the final and clinched their fourth IPL title. The Mumbai-based franchise maintained their winning record against Chennai, making it 4-3 in IPL finals. Alzarri Joseph of Mumbai Indians registered the best bowling figures in IPL history, taking 6 wickets for 12 runs.
2020: IPL Relocated to the UAE due to Covid-19:
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the entire IPL season was played in the United Arab Emirates across three venues, namely Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi, without spectators. Mumbai Indians triumphed once again, securing their fifth IPL title. Chennai Super Kings, a consistent performer throughout the years, failed to make it to the playoffs for the first time in their history.
2021: Two-Part Season and Chennai Super Kings’ Redemption:
The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted the IPL in May, and the tournament resumed in September. Chennai Super Kings, led by MS Dhoni, won their fourth IPL trophy by defeating Kolkata Knight Riders in the final. Kolkata Knight Riders made a remarkable turnaround, going from the bottom of the table in the first half to reaching the final under the captaincy of Eoin Morgan.
2022: Gujarat Titans Triumph in Their Debut Season:
Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans joined the league as new franchises. In their inaugural season, the Gujarat Titans, led by Hardik Pandya, clinched the title by defeating Rajasthan Royals in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The final witnessed a record-breaking attendance of over one lakh spectators.
