Padikkal hits maiden IPL hundred, Bangalore beat Rajasthan by 10 wickets

Mumbai, April 22: Young Chennai Super Kings opener Ruturaj Gaikwad says Faf du Plessis’ ability to play innovative shots and take on the bowlers makes “my job easier” at the other end.

Gaikwad (64), du Plessis (95) and pacer Deepak Chahar (4/29) were the architects of CSK’s 18-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL here on Wednesday.

“With Faf, it is pretty much easy. He has an innovation skill so he takes on the bowlers and it makes my job little bit easier,” Gaikwad told teammate Lungi Ngidi in a video posted on the IPL website.

The opening duo notched up dazzling half-centuries while stitching a 115-run partnership to give CSK the best possible start.

“Against KKR, it was a matter of taking a bit of time for me. We were playing on a small ground, we had to keep going.

“One over I used to take chances, the next over Faf used to take. It was just having each other’s knowledge and knowing each other very well,” he added. —