GT vs CSK, Final at Ahmedabad, IPL, May 28 2023 - Match Result

3.01am Dhoni collects the IPL trophy and hands it over to Rayudu and Jadeja. CSK celebrate under the fireworks. Dhoni has indicated that he will come back, if his body allows him to. It's all yellow. Hope you enjoyed our coverage as much we did bringing it to you. Until next time, this is Deivarayan Muthu signing off on the behalf of Karthik Krishnaswamy, Thilak Ram, and Venkat Raghav. Goodbye and cheers.

Dhoni: If you circumstantially see, it's the best time to announce the retirement. The easy thing for me to say is thank you and retire. But the hard thing to do is to work hard for nine months and try to play one more IPL season. The body has to hold up. But the amount of love I have received from CSK fans, it would be a gift for them to play one more season. The way they've shown their love and emotion, it's something I need to do for them. It's the last part of my career. It started over here and the full house was chanting my name. It was my same thing in Chennai, but it will be good to come back and play whatever I can. The kind of cricket I play, they feel they can play that cricket. There's nothing orthodox about it and I like to keep it simple. I think every trophy or bilateral series you win, it has its own challenges. When it comes to the crunch, you need to have your individuals ready. The amount of pressure every individual can deal with is different. We tried to do that. Ajinkya [Rahane] is experienced, but if they [youngsters] are confused we chat with them. The special thing about Rayudu if he's on the field he always gives his 100%. We played for India A together - he played spin and fast bowlers equally well. I felt always he will do something special. He's also like me who doesn't use a phone a lot.

2.50am Hardik: I think we tick a lot of boxes and we play with our heart. We've always been a team that has stood together and no one gave up. We win together and we lose together. Maybe one of those games today. I mean, I'm not one of those guys who makes excuses. Special mention to Sai as well. CSK played better cricket. Sai is going to do wonders in his life. Yeah, I mean really happy for the guys. We've been backing them and their success has been their success. Mohit, Shami, Rashid everyone…the way they put their hand up. Special mention to the coaching staff as well. I can't ask anything more from them. I'm very happy for him [Dhoni]. Destiny had this written for him. If I had to lose, I don't mind losing to him. Good things happen to good people.

CSK head coach Stephen Fleming collects the winners' medals on the behalf of the entire team.

2.30am Good morning, NZ fans. Devon Conway is the Player of the Match: It was a long time to wait and nervous for a long period. Rutu and I talked about doing our thing. Personally for me, the biggest win that I've had in my career. Being part of CSK and the fans..it was special. I've got to give a lot of credit to Mike Hussey and nice to be in those shoes.

Gill, the MVP of IPL 2023 and also the Orange Cap winner: Means a lot. The hard work that I've put in is going in the right direction for me. I think it was very important to start well and I started well. By the business end of the tournament, I converted the starts into big ones. I practiced a lot of [sixes] and I changed my technique a little bit for the death. The SRH hundred was about control and the MI was knowing the situation and taking on the opposition. For any batsman, it was important to anticipate and I did that

Mohammed Shami, Purple Cap winner: People watching enjoy it a lot but it is difficult for those doing it. Only two fielders outside, it is a challenge. There is extra responsibility in T20s. I am also a human, the white ball and red ball make a big difference, and you have to adjust."

RR's Yashasvi Jaiswal is the Emerging Player of IPL 2023. He's with India's WTC squad in the UK. So, Dube collects the award on the behalf of Jaiswal.

2.15am Dhoni is now having a chat with the Pandya brothers and Vijay Shankar. He still has that smile on his face. CSK's CEO Kasi now has a chat with Dhoni.

Manu Ajmani: "The best moment was when Dhoni sat there, expressionless, unmoved, no smile, no celebration for a few moments until he gathered his thoughts and joined the rest of the team. Not sure what to do if he announces his retirement because my gut says the famous last words "from this moment onwards, consider me retired" are a few minutes away!"

1.55am Thanks, Karthik. Hello, again, everyone. The broadcaster shows replays of a teary-eyed Dhoni lifting Jadeja up. Such an emotional moment. Gujarat boy Jadeja then hugs his wife under the fireworks. Some fireworks are also going off in my locality in Chennai. Dhoni has a smile on his face and celebrates with his boys in yellow. Nice to see the injured Mukesh Choudhary part of the celebrations too. Mukesh has been travelling with the squad since CSK's away game in Bengaluru. Dhoni is yet to speak at the post-match presentation. Do make yourself a brew and stick around with us.

Rayudu: It's a fairytale finish. I couldn't have asked for more. I'm fortunate to have played in really great sides. I can smile for the rest of my life. All the hard work I've done in the last 30 years, I'm happy I got to finish on this note. I would really like to thank my family, my father. Without them this wouldn't have been possible.

Jadeja: Feels amazing, winning my fifth title in front of my home crowd. I'm from Gujarat, and it's a special feeling. This crowd has been amazing. They were waiting for rain to stop till late night, I'd like to say a big congratulations to the CSK fans who came to support us. I'd like to dedicate this win to a special member of the CSK side, MS Dhoni. I was just thinking I need to swing hard, as much as I can. Where the ball will go, I was not thinking about that, just looking to swing hard. I was backing myself and looking to hit straight, because I know Mohit can bowl those slower balls.

Hussey: Hats off to Gujarat as well, they've been amazing through the season, but thankfully Jaddu got us over the line.Dhoni is an amazing human being. A good example is, in the qualifier, he was telling Senapati to remain calm, and he got us a crucial run-out. Some of those shots from Rayudu, the slower balls that he hit over cover, not many people can do that.

Fleming: It's a real caravan of cricket, and it comes down to the last two balls, and you're just sitting and watching. You age quickly when that happens. We were a little bit short in the bowling department to start, and Deshpande stepped up. Pathirana gave us a sting in the tail in the end overs.

Conway: I was just thinking positive intent, swing for the hills. It's been great batting alongside Rutu, such a clean hitter of the ball. Our partnership has worked really well, left-right combination, and we enjoy our time together. I think this environment is really good. We've got some top players, gives me the oportunity to speak to them about batting and learn so much.

Bravo: It's a great journey, and I've got to give credit to our entire bowling unit and also coach Eric Simons. It's a great combination between Eric and myself, and we're proud to see this young bowling group go out and showcase their talent. I hope my best friend Kieron Pollard is watching. He has some catching up to do.

Deshpande: As I said before the tournament started, I wanted to win the IPL title, and with DJ by my side, all my plans are clear.

Moeen: You're always learning from MS, how to deal with players and situations. It's a massive part of IPL, and that's why we've done so well.

Rahane: Credit goes to CSK management for backing me. They said they would back me completely if I got an opportunity. The victory is really special. Great team man [on Rayudu]. The knock he played today was really special.

Gaikwad: This one was special, because of how it went last year for us. To come back in style, win away games, win in Chepauk, and the finish was unbelievable. We would like to dedicate this win to Rayudu.

Chahar: He [Rayudu] was telling me, I'll win the final. That belief that he has is unbelievable.

1.35am One thirty-five AM. We began this final day before yesterday, and we've had just 35 overs in all this time, but we'll remember it for a long time. Dhoni has finally gotten out of the dugout and joined his celebrating team-mates. Ravindra Jadeja ends the tournament with a six and a four when CSK needed 10 off two balls. We'll remember that, but don't forget the four balls Mohit Sharma bowled before that, four unhittable balls that almost, almost won the tournament for Gujarat Titans. And don't forget B Sai Sudharsan, who went from making everyone wonder if he should retire out to playing one of the great IPL final knocks. Sweet, sweet finish to Ambati Rayudu's IPL career too. He's been around for so long, and he's played so many impact innings, and he's won multiple titles with the two most successful franchises in the tournament, but he's flown under the radar for most of that time. I'll hand over to Deivarayan Muthu to bring you the player interviews and presentation.

Dhruv: "For me the best moment was not the Jadeja and Dhoni one but the one where Hardik Pandya hugged Mohit Sharma immediately after the game."

Shyam: "Chennai lad Sai gave GT the total an impetus but it was down to a gujarathi rockstar in Jadeja to finish the match for CSK... Now that's IPL"

Sharad Rajaseka: "If Dhoni retires it will be surreal! An innings that started with a duck against Bangladesh! Now a duck in his potentially last innings"

CSK fan: "Why do we watch sports? Because of moments like these."

Aman: "Is that a full circle for MS Dhoni? 0 for 1 in 2004 debut, 0 for 1 in the end."

Adhiyan : "Chennai boy took the way from CSK, and then Gujurat boy got the last ball 4 to win"

edwin: "Who will play today's Rayudu's innings? :'( Surely he will be missed in CSK's team. "

Ramc: "I can say Jaddu is Thalapathy of CSK"

Four to win, three to tie. One last ball to end a sensational tournament. Three-day final, but it's been worth all the waiting and sky-watching.

10 off two balls. Mohit grabs a quick glug of water.

Three incredibly good balls so far. Inch-perfect.

12 off 4, with Ravindra Jadeja on strike. He hasn't had the greatest season with the bat, but all will be forgotten if he middles a couple of big hits.

Whodathunk at the start of this tournament that Mohit Sharma, net bowler last season, would bowl the final over of the final, against his former team? CSK need 13 off six balls. Shivam Dube is on strike. Over the wicket.

18 off 9. Round the wicket now.

20 off 11. Over the wicket to Dube. Interesting field. Short third, and a very fine deep third.

Nazeer: "It was Turning out to be the perfect climax to Rayudu's career. Can he still hang up his boots holding the trophy?"

Anson: "Hey what happened nooooooo"

Alex: "GT need a tight over from Shami here." -- Here he is. Round the wicket to Jadeja.

What an over this has been. Pure T20. 646WW. Mohit is on a hat-trick. In walks Ravindra Jadeja. Over the wicket.

Well, well. With 22 needed off 14 balls, MS Dhoni walks out to an absolute wall of noise. And that's just the ESPNcricinfo office I'm talking about. Ahmedabad must be absolutely exploding with Thala fever right now.

Here's Mohit once again.

It's time for the final time-out of IPL 2023. CSK need 38 in 18, and Shivam Dube is looking like Shivam Dube now.

Cheithanya: "Should someone from Tamil Nadu support CSK or GT, with more TN boys in GT (with Sai Sudharshan, Vijay Shankar and Sai Kishore)???" -- Be like me: neutral in the IPL, firm Tamil Nadu fan in the Ranji Trophy.