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Gaikwad steers CSK back to winning ways

cricket08 April 2024 18:03
By:CS Chiwanza
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Ruturaj Gaikwad (L) © Sportzpics

Ruturaj Gaikwad played an outstanding innings as he masterfully helped Chennai Super Kings pull off a seven-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in their Tata Indian Premier League match at the Chepauk on Monday. 

CSK motored to 141 for three in 17.4 overs in reply to KKR's effort of 137 for nine.

CSK remain unbeaten at home so far this season.

Gaikwad was measured as he struck nine fours for his unbeaten 67 off 58 balls.

The half-ton was Gaikwad's 15th in the IPL. Not only was this Gaikwad's first half-century of the season, but it was also his highest score at the Chepauk.

The CSK captain came into the match in need of an innings of substance after a run of a few less-than-ideal scores.

His task was made even more difficult by the fact that the pitch was not an easy one to bat on.

It required a circumspect approach and that is how he was during his 27-run opening stand with Rachin Ravindra (15).

Gaikwad's innings could have been perfect had he not offered KKR an opportunity to dismiss him when he was on 24.

Fortunately for the CSK skipper, Ramandeep Singh failed to hold on to the catch.

The CSK captain responded with back-to-back boundaries before cruising to a 45-ball 50.

Gaikwad's 70-run second-wicket partnership with Daryl Mitchell took the game away from the visitors.

Earlier in the match, KKR had scored 38 runs and lost three wickets between overs six and 13.

Ravindra Jadeja and Maheesh Theekshana were in full control, bowling tight lines and giving away very little.

CSK's control of this phase nullified KKR's brisk start courtesy of a 37-ball 56-run partnership between Sunil Narine (27) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (24).

Unlike KKR, CSK scored 20 runs more than their opponents in the six to 13 overs period.

From that point onwards, there was no way back into the match for KKR.

After Mitchell's dismissal, Gaikwad was joined by the big-hitting Shivam Dube. 

Dube crushed three sixes on his way to 27 off 18 balls. His 38-run partnership with Gaikwad brought CSK within three runs of victory.

JADEJA AND DESHPANDE SHINE WITH THE BALL 

Gaikwad's innings was built on a foundation laid by his bowlers earlier in the day.

The CSK captain threw the ball to Tushar Deshpande after winning the toss and electing to bat first.

The 28-year-old pacer made an immediate impact, dismissing Phil Salt with his first delivery.

Deshpande came into the match with best-bowling figures of 3-45. After his dismissal of Salt, the pacer would take two more wickets later in the innings to finish with three wickets for 33 runs in four overs.

Deshpande was one of two bowlers to take three wickets, the other being Ravindra Jadeja.

The spinner was the best bowler in the contest with three wickets for 18 runs in four overs.

Jadeja had an exceptional outing that he capped off by grabbing his 100th catch in the IPL.

The two bowlers were well-supported by the new purple cap holder, Mustafizur Rahman, who took 2-22 in four overs.

KKR captain Shreyas Iyer top-scored for his team with a fighting 34 off 32 balls.

Narine and Raghuvanshi were the second-highest scorers in an effort that was in stark contrast to their previous outing.

Vaibhav Arora and Sunil Narine were the two wicket-takers for KKR. 

Arora took 2-28 in four overs, while Narine took 1-30 in his four.

CSK: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Sameer Rizvi, Daryl Mitchell, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Shardul Thakur, Mustafizur Rahman, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana.

KKR: Phil Salt (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Sunil Narine, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy.

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