Berliner Boersenzeitung - Hyderabad and last-place Chennai end IPL with big wins

In the first match of the day, Chennai Super Kings, already doomed to the wooden spoon, ended their IPL campaign on a high with an 83-run thrashing of Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.

Chennai skipper M.S. Dhoni said he is in "no hurry" to decide on his future in the T20 tournament. The 43-year-old was reported to be retiring.

Klaasen made the day his own with an unbeaten 105 off 39 balls to steer Hyderabad to IPL's third highest total after they elected to bat at New Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla ground.

Klaasen, who was promoted to number three, hit seven fours and nine sixes in a complete show of domination by Hyderabad after opener Travis Head hit a 40-ball 76.

Three-time champions Kolkata, who won the IPL last year, were bowled out for 168 in 18.4 overs to end this edition eighth out in 10 teams.

Hyderabad's Australian import Head came out roaring with opening partner Abhishek Sharma in a blazing start of 92 in 6.4 overs.

Abhishek fell for 32 before fellow left-hander Head put on 83 runs with Klaasen as it rained sixes at Feroz Shah Kotla ground.

Klaasen reached his ton in 37 balls for the joint third-fastest IPL ton. West Indies' Chris Gayle hit a hundred in 30 balls in 2013 and Rajasthan Royals' teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi in 35 balls this season.

The left-handed Head fell to West indies spinner Sunil Narine, but Klaasen kept up the charge with Ishan Kishan.

In the earlier match, Chennai hurt Gujarat's chances of finishing in the top two. They made 230-5 powered by Devon Conway's 52 and a 23-ball 57 by Dewald Brevis.

The Chennai bowlers then combined to dismiss Gujarat, who have already qualified for the playoffs, for 147 in 18.3 overs.

- Dhoni's luxury of time -

Chennai ended with four wins in 14 matches with debate raging once again over the future of veteran Dhoni, who took over as leader midway after injury to regular captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Dhoni kept his cards close to his chest after the game.

"I have four, five months to decide. There's no hurry," said Dhoni.

The former India captain, who turns 44 in July, has had an underwhelming IPL season with the bat, scoring just 196 runs. However, he has again shone with his wicketkeeping, pulling off several fine stumpings.

"Need to keep the body fit," said Dhoni. "You have to be at your best. If cricketers start retiring for their performance, some of them will retire at 22. I will go back to Ranchi, enjoy a few bike rides.

"I am not saying I am done, not saying I am coming back. I have the luxury of time."

Gujarat, Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians are certain of filling the top four places, but are fighting to finish in the top two spots which offer two shots at reaching the final on June 3.

Gujarat end the group stage with 18 points. Punjab (17), Bengaluru (17) and five-time winners Mumbai (16) have one match left.

The spotlight was on Gujarat skipper Shubman Gill, who took the field a day after he was named captain of the Indian Test team.

He was the first batter out, for 13 off nine balls, in a Gujarat chase that never took off.

Gill said the defeat was a "hard pill to swallow".

(K.Lüdke--BBZ)