We have a good chance to defend our trophy, but it will not be easy: Chennai Super Kings bowling coach Bravo

Getting into the XI for the Ranji Trophy final in place of injured Mohit Avasthi — Mumbai’s highest wickettaker coming into the final — was the fairytale ending for Dhawal Kulkarni’s First Class career. The script ended on an even better note as Kulkarni — the king of Ranji finals — took the final wicket to end his career on a high.

It was the fifth final Mumbai had won where Kulkarni — the pacer who played his 96th First Class game — featured in. In the first four, he had three fivewicket hauls and a matchturning 87 with the willow — his personal best — against Karnataka in 200910, a match he describes as his “most memorable”. No wonder then that Rahane stressed that the team requested him to prolong his retirement by a season while Rohit Sharma referred to him as “Mumbai’s warrior” in a social media post.

Road ahead unclear

For Kulkarni, though, the road ahead is unclear but being the workhorse he has been, he promised to be involved with cricket. “I have not thought about it

Chennai Super Kings bowling coach Dwayne Bravo feels his side’s bowling attack is even better going into the 2024 season, and is confident of defending the IPL title.

In the player auction held in December, the fivetime reigning champion bolstered its pace attack by snapping up Shardul Thakur and Mustafizur Rahman.

“We have (Matheesha) Pathirana, Deepak (Chahar) and Shardul (Thakur) much, but cricket has given me so much that I want to give back to it, whether it be coaching or whatever I get,” Kulkarni said.

“Winning a final in a tough way is what you want and that’s what we did as a team. We hung on to our nerves, put pressure, bowled really well, all the bowlers chipped in, it was what you could say bowling in partnership and that’s what we did,” Kulkaris back; Fizz (Mustafizur) is there, and Mukesh (Choudhary) is back. We have a lot of depth with young fast bowlers,” said Bravo at the store opening of Avira Diamonds on Thursday.

“These guys add to what we had last year, and we have a better attack. It is always good to have depth in the squad.”

Bravo is regarded as one of the greatest T20 bowlers, especially in the death overs and helped the Super Kings be effective in the back end of an innings last year.

When asked if the team focussed on shoring up its deathbowling attack, the 40yearold said, “I don’t ni said.

More than his 12 ODIs and two T20Is for India, Kulkarni is hailed as a domestic stalwart. Ever since he marked his Ranji debut with a fivewicket haul in November 2008, Kulkarni has been the leader of the Mumbai’s pace pack. In fact, on Thursday, the quickest Mumbai pacer Tushar Deshpande asked captain Ajinkya Rahane to get Kulkarni to bowl and pick the last wicket. have input in the auctions. But my job starts now. Death bowling is my speciality. I believe in T20s that (death overs) is a very important segment of the game. It requires a lot of skill, bravery, and planning.”

“You have to implement it in practice and get these guys to believe in the philosophy and work towards it. Last year, we had the best death bowling team, and we look forward to repeating it.”

Super Kings will kick off its titledefence campaign at home against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 22, and the former Windies skipper felt his

“I should have played more (for India) than I did but that wasn’t in my hands. I wanted to help Mumbai win by getting my A game, especially in the knockouts. Whenever I played for Mumbai, I wanted the lion to roar,” Kulkarni said.

As much as Kulkarni will miss wearing the lion’s crest — the signature emblem of Mumbai Cricket Association — the lion’s crest will also miss him. side has a good chance of retaining the crown.

“Our chances are very good, just like the other teams. CSK starts as favourites in most seasons, but we can’t go into the tournament thinking we are favourites and will win.”

Preparation

“We must prepare well as a team, which we always do. The (mix of ) experience and youth is a combination that has been working well for us.

“With a good management staff and captain cool (MS Dhoni), we have a good chance to defend our trophy, but it will not be easy,” said Bravo.

EMMANUAL YOGINI Kulkarni had moments to cherish after Mumbai’s triumph as his teammates carried him on their shoulders and his wife and daughter bask in the glory.

Fitting finale: