CSK vs GT, IPL Qualifier 1 Highlights: Chennai through to their 10th final, beat Titans by 15 runs

“Last 3-4 games in Chennai have been different. First few games wicket was better. Have had to adapt. Look to rotate strike, capitalise on loose deliveries. Both are great players (Conway and Faf). Faf was someone who was aggressive from ball one. Conway has great batsmanship. I would say the knock of 60 (what was more satisfying - 60 or the catch).”

“I don't know (back next year?) - I have 8-9 months to decide. Why take that headache now. I'll always be there for CSK, where it's playing or something outside.”

“After the noise around the Chepauk dies down of course. “IPL is too big to say it's just another final. Used to be 8 top teams, now it's 10. I won't say it's just another final. It's hard work of 2 months. Everybody has contributed. Yes, middle-order has not got ample opportunity. GT are a fantastic team and they've chased very well, so the thought was to get them in. But it was a good toss to lose. If Jaddu gets conditions that help him. he's very difficult to hit. His bowling changed the game. Not to forget his partnership with Moeen. We try to create an environment and work out what is the strength of a fast bowler. We try to give them confidence and tell them 'please try to explore your bowling'. We try to motivate them as much as possible. Support staff is there, Bravo and Eric are there. You see the wicket and according to that you keep adjusting the field. I can be a very annoying captain, I keep shifting fielders 2-3 feet. Only request I ask from the fielders is, keep an eye on me. If there's a dropped catch there will be no reaction (from me), just keep an eye on me. I don't know - I have 8-9 months to decide. Why take that headache now. I'll always be there for CSK, whether as a player or something outside.”

Chahar had taken that catch off the last ball and he did come running in from a long way. Once he got the ball he did seem to pull up a bit. The pacer has had major issues with injuries over the past couple of years but he says in a post-match interview that he is fine.

“We were quite spot on (with the bowling) but we made some basic errors. I felt were were exactly 15 runs short [also the margin of defeat]. I think we did a lot of things right. But we bowled a couple of soft balls in between. We gave some runs in between, we must've conceded 16 runs or so due to our soft balls. Don't want to think too much about it, we have one more chance of going to the final. (Dhoni made 172 feel like 190?) That's the beauty about him as well. We gave 15 runs extra, lost wickets, and that's the reason we are talking to you right now. Two days later we will give it a crack again. (Will you be watching tomorrow?) Yes, my brother is playing. I hope I see him there [in Ahmedabad].”

GT all out for 157, the last wicket fell off the last ball of the match. The legend of CSK and MS Dhoni continues. There have been all kinds of indications that he might retire after this season, is he going to say farewell by lifting that trophy for a fifth time? 

There was a little funny moment when Deshpande went full and straight to Shami for the fifth ball of the over. Shami swung it away to the leg side for four. Dhoni was not happy about Deshpande bowling despite the off side being absolutely packed.

How about that! Dhoni moves Conway towards deep point just before the ball, and no prizes for guessing to whom Rashid has hit it straight to. Low full toss outside off, Rashid slices right into Conway's hands. The celebrations are in the CSK dugout as much as in the middle.

First ball of the 19th, exactly what the Titans needed. Low full toss outside off that Rashid slices over cover. He has raced to 30 off 14, what a hand he is playing here.

Just 5 runs off an excellent 18th over from Pathirana. Rashid Khan is on strike for the first ball of the 19th though and Deshpande will bowl it.

Golden duck for Nalkande. He drilled it to mid off a bit too hard and set off, substitute fielder Senapati nails the direct hit.

Sensational work from Gaikwad. He comes running in from deep midwicket, dives forward and takes the catch close to the ground. Umpires send it upstairs but Gaikwad has no doubts about that, third umpire confirms that Shankar is out.

Shankar c Gaikwad b Pathirana 14 (10), GT 136/7 in 17.3 overs

He has raced tom 25 off 10. Knee-high full toss, Rashid swings away, big outside edge and it lands in front of Theekshana at short third and bursts past him.

Now GT need 43 to win off 20. Rashid Khan swats the fourth ball of the 17th over long off.

Deshpande sent the first ball of the 17th wide and when he bowled it again, Shankar sent it right over the bowler's head for a six. GT need 51 to win off 22.

GT now need 58 to win off 24 balls. Rashid paddles the last ball of the 16th bowled by Pathirana past MSD. Well the target is not exactly out of reach for GT but it has to be these two and no one else.

Play has been held up for at least 4 minutes as Dhoni and a few other CSK players talk to the umpires about goodness knows what. It seems to be about Pathirana coming in to bowl the next over and he was off the field for quite a while. It is quite unclear what happened there but after nearly 5 minutes of discussions, Pathirana does bowl. GT 102/6 in 15 overs

No Tewatia magic today for GT. All their big guns have fallen and it is only Vijay Shankar remaining, unless Rashid Khan can play an innings of a lifetime here. Tewatia trying to guide it down the leg side, 103kph delivery fizzes past him to the stumps.

Tewatia b Theekshana 3 (5), GT 98/6 (14.3 Ov)

Short slower delivery ball first up in the 14th over from Chahar, Gill goes for the pull but is just too early on the shot! Conway at deep square leg runs around to grab that catch.

Gill c Conway b Chahar 42 (38), GT 89/5 in 13.2 overs

Well it is starting to look more and more like GT would have to play the second Qualifier.

Miller b Jadeja 4 (6), GT 88/4 in 13 overs

Reverse sweep straight into the hands of short third. A couple of dot balls in that over is what forced Shanaka to go for that shot, his Sri Lanka teammate Theekshana does well to hold on to that catch. The partnership ends on 31 off 28, just as it was starting to look dangerous.

Shanaka c Theekshana b Jadeja 17 (16), GT 72/3 in 10.3 overs

Off the very next ball. "No, no!" shouts Dhoni as the ball floats away over long off. Shanaka played that one inside out.

Second ball of the 10th bowled by Theekshana to his Sri Lanka teammate, the batter hits it just beyond deep midwicket's reach.

It's a game of chess at the moment between CSK's spinners and Gill. Dasun Shanaka at the other end has faced eight balls for six runs, Gill is on 32 off 28. He sweeps the last ball of the 9th over to the boundary to push his strike rate back past 100.

The fourth ball of that over ripped off a length outside off and turns away from Gill sharply. The batter pulls out of the shot seeing that.