Ruturaj and Deshpande Shine in Chennai Super Kings’ Dominant Victory Over SRH In IPL 2024
In a thrilling match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Ruturaj Gaikwad’s stellar performance and Tushar Deshpande’s impressive bowling led CSK to a resounding victory.
With this win, CSK climbed to third place on the points table, tied with four other teams at ten points each.
Sunrisers Hyderabad 134 (Markram 32, Deshpande 4-27) lost to Chennai Super Kings 212 for 3 (Gaikwad 98, Mitchell 52, Dube 39*) by a margin of 78 runs.
Call them cautious, but the Chennai Super Kings have shown their strategy effective even though they were unable to hold 210 against the Lucknow Super Giants in their previous home game. Despite batting in wet conditions, the formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad’s losing run in Chennai—they have never defeated CSK at Chepauk—continued as they were thoroughly defeated.
With Ruturaj Gaikwad, the captain, scoring nearly a century and Shivam Dube pushing them over 200, CSK appeared to be playing the same game again. They were the slowest team in the first two overs and the third-slowest in the powerplay. It was their eighth lost toss in nine matches. But in the second inning, things were different. The combination of excessive dew, Marcus Stoinis’s extraordinary innings, and their own mediocre fielding the other night—events that won’t happen again—must have given CSK the impression that they were finished.
That didn’t happen again on Sunday when Tushar Deshpande stunned the SRH with three wickets in the powerplay. Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head both discovered the sweeper on the off side. With the significant victory, CSK moved up to third place in the standings, level with SRH and LSG. Given that SRH has only lost one game while defending and only one while chasing, concerns were raised about their chasing strategies. Their chasing average drops from over 40 to 23, and their run rate drops three runs from their first-inning 11.74.
In the first two overs, the CSK openers only attempted one boundary, but they steadily advanced, mainly because Gaikwad was a skilled gap-finder. CSK managed just 67 runs in the first eight overs, with Gaikwad scoring 44 off 25 with seven fours.
The previous match saw CSK go the first ten overs without a six. Here, they took the lead at the beginning of the ninth over when Daryl Mitchell, off-driving a slower ball over mid-off, welcomed Pat Cummins to the bowling crease. Gaikwad repeated the dosage in the same over to reach 51 off 27. Up until then, CSK’s other end—including extras—had only scored 31 off 27.
But Mitchell now became a part of the group and helped CSK continue while Gaikwad could only muster 10 off the next 10. Mitchell reached fifty off of 29 during that time before holing out to leave CSK at 126 for 3 in 13.3 overs.
Shivam Dube’s outstanding season persisted in spite of SRH’s solid defensive bowling. With four sixes and a four, he finished with 39 off 20. After Mitchell was out, Gaikwad got another wind and quickly took 29 off 10 balls. But by the end he was exhausted and was hitting everything incorrectly. The mishits continued to land safely, decreasing his strike percentage. Jaydev Unadkat bowled the 19th over, which produced no boundaries.
Even though Dube finished with a massive six and MS Dhoni emerged for the traditional five off two, it was still unclear if CSK made the right decision in playing the same way as the previous night.
Travis Head got off to a boundary first ball and a six off the opening ball of the next over, in contrast to CSK. He was matched by Abhishek Sharma, who hit a six of his own. However, Deshpande returned with a slower, wider ball that Head could only hit as far as the off-side sweeper. Anmolpreet Singh, an impact player, was hit by a ball that shaped away and fell with the leading edge.
Deshpande had Abhishek caught by the sweeper on the off side once more in his subsequent over. Although Abhishek and Head haven’t exactly dominated without fielding opponents, they will feel a little let down that they each managed to get one of the two men out.
Also Read: CSK Wins 2023 IPL Final to Crown Joint 5 Times Champions
Here’s where CSK’s results differed from the previous game. Especially with the dew, LSG refused to allow the CSK spinners to bowl in the previous game. At this point, Ravindra Jadeja started working. Bowling consecutively, he gave up just one boundary in his four overs. Together with Mustafizur Rahman, he was able to get precisely the right amount of surface grip. Before Matheesha Pathirana smashed the stump camera with a laser-guided middle-stump yorker to Aiden Markram, a disgruntled Nitish Reddy top-edged a short ball from Jadeja.
CSK was correct. They closed off with efficiency to win by 78 runs, meaning there would be no repeat of a special chase.
Deshpande On His Game Plan
In a thrilling encounter between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Tushar Deshpande’s stellar performance in the powerplay stole the show. His career-best figures of 4 for 27, including crucial wickets like Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Anmolpreet Singh in the initial overs, played a pivotal role in CSK’s commanding 78-run triumph.
Deshpande’s strategy revolved around dictating terms to the opposition batsmen, a tactic that reaped rich rewards in the dewy conditions. He highlighted the importance of sticking to a plan, emphasizing the need to consistently deliver quality deliveries despite the aggressive nature of T20 cricket. This approach, according to Deshpande, proved effective as it put pressure on SRH early in their chase of 213.
CSK’s captain Ruturaj Gaikwad acknowledged Deshpande’s impact, particularly his ability to break through SRH’s top order during the powerplay. Gaikwad also credited Ravindra Jadeja for his economical bowling in challenging conditions, describing his spell as pivotal in turning the match in CSK’s favor.
The significance of powerplay wickets in T20s was underscored by Gaikwad, highlighting Deshpande’s consistent efforts throughout the season. Despite concerns over fitness due to the demanding conditions, Gaikwad remained focused on contributing effectively to CSK’s campaign.
With this impressive victory, CSK, currently placed third in the standings, gears up to face Punjab Kings in their upcoming fixture, aiming to maintain their momentum in the IPL 2024 season.
Understanding Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Batting Struggles in IPL Chases
The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2024 have displayed an aggressive approach, taking on more than half of the legal balls in their T20 innings. This strategy has resulted in record-breaking totals against teams like Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians, showcasing their potency when conditions favor them.
SRH’s success lies in their ability to unleash both ends of their batting lineup, eschewing mere strike rotation for explosive hitting. This approach has made them a formidable force, particularly on pitches that favor batsmen. However, their effectiveness diminishes when chasing targets, leading to a drop in run-rate and fewer sixes.
Captain Pat Cummins emphasizes the importance of strategic batting, highlighting the need to capitalize on favorable match-ups while avoiding reckless shots. Despite their chasing potential, SRH often find themselves struggling to maintain momentum, losing wickets early in the innings and facing steep run-rate requirements.
The recent loss to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) underscored SRH’s need for a more balanced approach, especially in challenging conditions like the Chepauk stadium. Unlike other venues with smaller boundaries, adapting to larger grounds and slower pitches requires a nuanced batting strategy, as explained by CSK’s batting coach, Michael Hussey.
SRH’s batting prowess is evident, but their ability to navigate difficult situations and build partnerships under pressure remains a work in progress. As they seek to improve their chasing record, finding the right balance between aggression and stability will be crucial for their success in IPL 2024.
