Lucknow, April 20: Multiple times Indian Premier League (IPL) champions. Maverick Mahendra Singh Dhoni still around. They have also won a few matches this season and experts forecast that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in all likelihood, will get into the play-offs again.
Once they enter the play-offs, CSK have a track record of raising their games. Who knows, Chennai boys may end up winning another Indian Premier League (IPL) title. Will that be a superb farewell to legend M S Dhoni. May be, if Dhoni decides to sign off after IPL 2024.
But all those discussions can rest for the time being. The Chennai boys are facing a new problem this season. Their power-play bowling has not been very impressive so far.
That issue is no more limited to match post-mortem by experts, or has been a bother for CSK fans. Even their new skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad is already aware of that. He confessed that in the post-match interaction on Friday.
After losing to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by a mammoth 8 wickets margin on Friday evening at Ekana Stadium, CSK skipper Gaikwad blamed his team's inability to kick-off scoring in the middle overs. He also admitted that loss of wickets at regular junctures led to his side falling short by 10-15 runs in Match 34 of IPL 2024.
K.L. Rahul (82) and Quinton de Kock (54) shared a 134-run opening partnership during a batting master-class, helping Lucknow Super Giants beat Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in the highest successful run chase at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium here on Friday.
After M.S Dhoni nailed the last bite by scoring 28 off nine deliveries to help CSK reach a modest 176/6 in 20 overs, Rahul and de Kock's partnership ensured that LSG romped to 180/2 in 19 overs to win the match by eight wickets.
Gaikwad said they finished off their innings very well. "We finished off very well, couldn't have asked for more. But after the Power-play, we couldn't kick off till 14-15th over. We lost wickets regularly and were 10-15 short," the CSK captain said.
He said the wicket was slightly difficult to bat but with dew coming in, became easier later in the night. "Slightly difficult to bat but with the Impact Player rule you need an extra batter. With dew coming on later, felt 180-190 could have been good," said Gaikwad.
Gaikwad said bowling in Power-play is what they need to improve on. He said he was looking for his team to come back hard with the two teams scheduled to play again at Chepauk soon. "(Bowling in Power-play) is one area we would like to improve, puts the opposition on the back foot if we can get wickets in the Power-play. Good to play them again soon, will come back with homework done," said the CSK captain.
Do we expect CSK to bowl better in the next match during the power-play? Can they apply themselves better and improve their middle overs batting next time?
Hopefully, yes. Because they are known for correcting their past mistakes and raise their game. That is why CSK have lifted the IPL trophy five times. (With IANS support)
