TREMENDOUS EFFORT BY GAIKWAD & BRAVO
SUPER KINGS SURVIVE EARLY SETBACKS TO POST 156 BEFORE THROTTLING MUMBAI BATSMEN
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni heaped praise on Ruturaj Gaikwad after the opener carried the Chennai Super Kings on his young shoulders from a precarious situation against defending champions Mumbai Indians in the first clash of the UAE leg yesterday.
“It was tough to come back from there [24 for four], but we batted sensibly and finished superbly. It was sensible for one batter to bat right through to the end,” skipper Dhoni told the broadcasters Star Sports Network during the presentation ceremony. “At 30 for 4, you want to put up a respectable score, I felt Rutu and Bravo got us more than what we expected. We thought of 140, to get close to 160 was tremendous.”
The Chennai Super Kings showed why they are the side to beat in IPL 2021 with a gutsy performance on a two-paced wicket that posed a big challenge to the batsmen. The 20-run victory over the Mumbai Indians was ample evidence of their resilience and the ability to bounce back from impossible situations.
Electing to bat at the Dubai International Stadium, Chennai were reduced 24/4 in six overs. Young Gaikwad shouldered the burden of steadying CSK innings with an unbeaten 88. His knock gave CSK a fighting total of 156/6 in 20 overs. Also helping the cause was a cameo by Dwayne Bravo, who hit 23 off eight deliveries, to swell the Yellow Brigade’s total past the
It was tough to come back from there [24 for four], but we batted sensibly and finished superbly. It was sensible for one batter to bat right through to the end.” M.S. Dhoni » Chennai Super Kings
150-run mark. “Obviously one of my top innings until now, given the pressure we were in,” Ruturaj said after receiving his man of the match award. “I had to grind it out, bat till 1012 overs, give myself time and push for 120-130, and then slowly 140-150 was possible. It was a matter of spending time in the middle.”
After that, the Chennai pace pack, led by Deepak Chahar, struck repeated blows to bring Mumbai to their knees.
Crucial partnership
Earlier, New Zealanders Trent Boult and Adam Milne ripped the heart out of the Chennai batting, dismissing Faf du Plessis, Moeen, Suresh Raina and skipper Dhoni in quick time. When Ambati Rayudu was hurt and retired, Chennai were looking down the barrel.
Gaikwad, who was put down by wicketkeeper Quentin de Kock, stood tall among the Chennai wreckage. Initially, he strung together a 71-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja (25 off 31 balls) and later accelerated in the company of Bravo, who struck an 8-ball 23 with four sixes. Gaikwad remained unbeaten on 88 from 59 balls (9 fours, 4 sixes).
Mumbai’s early flourish came unstuck after the dismissals of De Kock and Anmolpreet Singh, who replaced Rohit Sharma. The Mumbai Indians’ skipper is reported to be nursing a hamstring niggle.
With Deepak Chahar bowling a tidy spell (3-0-9-2), Mumbai could never get going and succumbed to mounting pressure with Surya Kumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan perishing cheaply. When Kieron Pollard, leading Mumbai in Sharma’s absence, was trapped lbw by Josh Hazlewood, the match was well and truly over. Saurabh Tiwary stuck around to score an unbeaten 50, but he never got adequate support at the other end.
Chennai are worthy winners, and they climb to the top of the table with 12 points, edging Delhi Capitals on a better run rate.
“To start our campaign with a win is a very good feeling,” Bravo said. “Ruturaj batted really well, he’s a quality player. Has the appetite for runs, good to have someone like him who can steady the team and others bat around him,” the West Indian all-rounder said.
Losing captain Kieron Pollard also said, “Ruturaj batted really well”.
Mumbai skipper said: “In T20 cricket, if one person bats through he can hurt you. We didn’t finish off well with the ball. Losing by 20 runs you know those were the extra runs we conceded. Even though they got 150+, as a batting team we could’ve gotten that. Losing three wickets was a cardinal sin for us. Given the circumstances, Saurabh batted really well.”