Chennai Super Kings batters had a tough time against SunRisers Hyderabad as they could only score 165/5 in 20 overs against SunRisers Hyderabad. The in-form Shivam Dube top-scored with a 24-ball 45, while veteran Ajinkya Rahane contributed a sedate 35 off 30 balls after CSK were asked to bat on a delivery that didn’t look like a proverbial belter. The duo’s 65-run partnership for the third wicket from just 6.3 overs was the sole highlight of the CSK innings.
CSK scored just 37 runs in the last five overs and that could be the turning point in the match.
But credit must be given to CSK’s season man Ravindra Jadeja, whose unbeaten 31 from 23 balls was the extra boost the defending champions needed in the end. There was a run in the innings in the 19th over when Jadeja got in the way of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s delivery towards the stumps. SRH’s Heinrich Klaasen also seemed to give a signal that he might hinder the field. But SRH skipper Pat Cummins withdrew the appeal.
Obstructive or not?
Skipper Pat Cummins chooses not to appeal #SRHvCSK #IPLonJioCinema #TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/l85UXQEa4S
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) April 5, 2024
However, Mohammad Kaif said: “Two questions for Pat Cummins regarding the withdrawal of the obstruction appeal against Jadeja. Was it a tactical decision to let a struggling Jadeja be the crease and keep Dhoni in? Would he have done the same if he had? Virat Kohli at World T20?”
Two questions for Pat Cummins about the withdrawal of the objection against Jadeja. Was it a tactical decision to let a struggling Jadeja be the crease and keep Dhoni in? Would he have done the same if it was Virat Kohli at World T20?
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 5, 2024
But some social media users also praised Cummins for his stance.
Jadeja blocks the pitch at 19th against Bhuvi, it’s clearly out, SRH could have appealed but we should appreciate Pat Cummins for withdrawing the appeal.#SRHvsCSK #IPL2024
— Vibinraj (@vibin1021) April 5, 2024
Coming out at the end of the innings, former captain MS Dhoni was left not out on one off two balls.
For SRH, it was a collective bowling effort with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pat Cummins, T Natarajan Shahbaz Ahmed and Jaydev Unadkat taking a wicket each.
CSK made a decent start, reaching 25 without loss in three overs before veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave SRH the breakthrough with his first wicket of the season in the form of Rachin Ravindra who cut the ball straight to Markram in the first ball of the fourth over . .
One down Rahane then hit SRH captain Cummins for a six in the fifth over. CSK took 15 runs from the sixth overbowed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with Rahane and his captain Ruturaj Gaikwad hitting a four and a six respectively.
CSK were well placed at 48 for 1 at the end of the first powerplay, but the introduction of spin in the form of Shahbaz Ahmed did the trick as Gaikwad was out for 26 off 21 balls, with Abdul Samad taking a simple catch at long -on. .
Rahane did score useful runs but never really looked fluid in his strokeplay as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat and T Natarajan reduced the pace of their delivery to stem the flow of runs.
Dube was the first scorer during their 65-run partnership for the third wicket off just 6.3 overs. Dube, who has already scored a fifty this season, was more aggressive than his senior partner, hitting two fours and four towering sixes during his 24-ball innings. He is indeed making a good case for himself as a finisher in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup in America.
He was eventually deceived by Pat Cummins’ off-ball speed and gave an easy catch to Kumar at backward point in the 14th over.
Rahane was out in the next over off Unadkat’s bowling and the two quick wickets did not help CSK’s cause.
With PTI inputs
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