CSK won their 3rd match in the Tata IPL 2022. Astonishingly Ravindra Jadeja handed over the captaincy reins to the Thala MS Dhoni. CSK still have a mathematical chance to qualify for the playoffs by winning their next 5 matches, if they do so then they would have 16 points and would hope that either RR or SRH get 16 points only and at the end, the NRR would come into question which can make things very much spicy.
Kane Williamson would be wary of the fact that his team has lost 2 back to back matches. The likes of Natarajan, Umran Malik, and Jansen need to make sure that the batters aren’t chasing 200+ targets as scoreboard pressure keeps the batters haunting as a couple of wickets in the power-play overs can easily turn the run rate to 11-12 runs per over.
Umran recently took a dazzling 5-wicket haul whereas the likes of Natarajan and Jansen are bowling immaculate line and lengths, the bowlers have been the backbone of SRH’s success so far.
Ruturaj Gaikwad finds his groove back
Ruturaj who had a poor season with the bat apart from a couple of innings finally hit form. He scored 99 runs and missed out on a century. But most importantly he played his natural game and didn’t get into the shell.
He got ample support from Devon Conway who scored 80 odd runs. CSK made some tactical changes like giving Uthappa a backseat was surprising and then making Dube slide down the order which was just like the old Champion CSK.
Both the openers laid the foundation and fretted the bowlers and then went berserk. CSK scored a mammoth score which meant that their bowlers will have to bowl impeccable lines and lengths.
The likes of Santner, Theekshana, and most crucially Jadeja bowled without any pressure. CSK now know that their title defense is almost done and dusted and yet some would argue that they can make it to the playoffs which have a thin line on it.
Nicholas Pooran falls short of taking the team over the finish line
Pooran had a tough task on his hands yet he tried his best as he scored a turbulent knock of 64 runs in 33 balls. CSK fielders were dropping dollies and were given chances to Pooran to smash them all around the park.
CSK fielding coach needs to have some serious draining practice sessions as the same had happened against RCB and MI. It is often said catches win matches which shouldn’t be ignored.
Pooran showed glimpses of the Legendary Iconic left-handed batter, Brian Lara, by hitting monster sixes. The effect was due to happen as SRH have Brian Lara as the batting coach.
SRH batting lineup is too much dependent on Tripathi and Markram as the skipper Kane Williamson and the rest need to pull up their socks and bat responsibly as such scenarios are bound to happen again and again that too in crunch matches.
SRH would hope that this loss isn’t a wake-up call and would be eager to qualify quickly as history is evident that teams fail to live up to their expectations in the last stage.
Source: India Today
