Facing a seven-wicket loss against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Chepauk Stadium, Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad acknowledged the significant challenges his team faced during the match. In particular, he attributed the absence of key bowlers, Matheesha Pathirana and Tushar Deshpande, as well as the unexpected amount of dew on the field, as critical factors in the team’s defeat on Wednesday.
CSK managed to scrape together a score of 162/7 in their innings, with Gaikwad himself contributing a commendable 62 runs. Unfortunately, the rest of the batting lineup faced significant difficulties handling the precise spin bowling from PBKS’ Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar.
The team felt the absence of their Sri Lankan pacer, Pathirana, dealing with a niggle, and Deshpande, who was unwell. Their replacements, Richard Gleeson and Shardul Thakur, faced a challenging environment, exacerbated by the heavy dew that affected the game’s second half.
Post-match, Gaikwad lamented the situation, stating, “It is a real problem (not having Pathirana and Deshpande). There are phases where you want to get a wicket, and you have only two bowlers, plus the spinners are out of the question because of the dew. Can’t do much.”
He also underlined the frustration in dealing with natural conditions like dew, which can disrupt strategies, especially when fielding in the second innings. Gaikwad felt that batting slightly better in the first innings could have made a difference in the last two games, where CSK aimed for scores of 200-210 but found even 180 a tough target on the current pitch.
Reflecting on CSK’s batting performance, Gaikwad believed an additional 50-60 runs might have been crucial. “50-60 runs short to be honest. When we were batting first, the pitch wasn’t great, plus the dew as well (in the second innings),” he remarked.
The captain also shared his struggles with the toss, which seemed to elude him despite concerted practice. “I have practised (toss) a lot. I have tossed it in the match. I am winning in the practice, but not winning in the match. What to do. I am really under pressure at the toss, not at the game,” Gaikwad confided.
PBKS’ stand-in captain, Sam Curran, shining with an unbeaten 26, expressed the joy of winning on the opposition’s home ground, stating, “Anytime you come to Chennai and get two points, it is a huge feeling.” Curran attributed the toss victory to a significant edge due to the dew factor, and lauded Kagiso Rabada for setting a powerful tone at the start of their chase.
Punjab Kings’ leg-spinner Rahul Chahar turned out to be a decisive factor in the game, returning figures of 2/16, and making an impact with his bowling. “Chahar has come back into the team really well. We tried something different in the 19th over. He showed the confidence to bowl to MS (Dhoni), which was great. The spinners were the pick of the bowlers,” Curran acknowledged.
The fast-paced nature of the game demanded creativity from the bowlers, noted Curran, attributing a blend of optimism and strategy to his team’s performance. Meanwhile, Rilee Rossouw, who added 43 runs for PBKS, exuded confidence in the team’s prospects, hinting at the playoffs: “Never over till it’s over. We have the belief that we can make the playoffs. Hopefully, we can turn things around.”
As the IPL 2024 continues, fans and teams alike look forward to more exciting cricket, clinging to the latest updates, match schedules, and points tables. Everyone eager to follow the season’s progress remains engaged through various platforms, anticipating the thrilling encounters that lie ahead in this celebrated cricket tournament.