Where Sunrisers lost the game

Manish-sized rescue for the Sunrisers Hyderabad

Faf du Plessis stands integral to CSK’s chances

When Faf du Plessis walked in as CSK’s opener, there was a doubt, whether the move was a required one, whether they didn’t have another option at the top of the order. But the way Faf has adapted himself as an opener in the IPL, especially for the Super Kings, there has been no other opener in the past two years. In fact, this season, the right-handed batsman averages 86.66, his highest batting average in any T20 tournament. Not just that, his impact in the powerplay is next to none, on par with Prithvi Shaw, who has scored 136 runs in the first six-over phase in the tournament. Over 13 games last year, the right-hander scored 449 runs, at an average of 40.81, with a strike rate of 140.75. In fact, this season, he has not only substantially improved on his average, which currently reads 88.66 but the strike rate also improved over the last two years, from 123.36 to 142.24. Faf really stands integral to CSK’s chances of recapturing the IPL title. 

After winning the toss, David Warner uttered those magical words, ‘We will bat first’ a decision that in hindsight, he will now dearly regret. This wasn’t a bat-first wicket, nope not even one bit, Warner. In fact, if there is one thing that the Sunrisers should have learnt from their losses in Chennai, that is dew does play a massive role, in conditions where there is a good level of humidity. In Delhi, there was the humidity, in fact, it was at the level where the Sunrisers spinners really struggled to grip the ball. In fact, barring the odd delivery from Rashid Khan, no deliveries really turned a long way, which set up the victory for the Super Kings. On a surface, where their spinners would have got a lot of purchase in the first innings, Warner’s decision after winning the toss tilted the game against them. 

Hotzone

By a break, we mean that Shardul Thakur should be out of the playing XI, starting from their next clash in Delhi. After having impressed all over the world, in the last year, Shardul has been nothing but a shadow of himself in the ongoing edition of the IPL, where he has just accounted for four wickets. Two of those four wickets have come in the opening fixture against Delhi Capitals. Since that, the pacer has just picked up two wickets, with an average of 52.75 and a strike rate of 32.7 but more importantly, conceding 9.66 RPO. In a bowling unit, filled with superstar names, Shardul looks like the ‘weak’ one out, which hasn’t cost the franchise yet but if they don’t make a move, it might as well start costing them. Now, who is the replacement you ask? That’s where it is pertinent to know that Chennai have two able, out and out pacers in the setup, rather than sitting on the bench. KM Asif and Harishankar Reddy, two pacers who have both picked up six and seven wickets each are more than able options. Not just that, like Avesh Khan, has done it time and again for Delhi this season, the two above options could work out for CSK, providing them with an edge in the middle-overs. Time for a change, Dhoni!

Player ratings

MVP - Ruturaj Gaikwad

Sorry, Faf, you might have the Orange Cap, which looks nice by the way, we have to give this MVP award to Ruturaj Gaikwad. After three failures in the season, he has come back to prime form, with three knocks of sublime nature. Today’s 44-ball 75 was just the epitome of his ability, that too against Rashid Khan, at a strike rate of 170.45. Phew!

David Warner is easily one the most graceful modern-day players but even for a player of his calibre, the pitch showed him who is the boss! Today, the Australian was a perfect representation of how the match went about - gruesome, painful and frustrating - especially in the middle-overs. If not for Manish Pandey, Kane Williamson and Kedar Jadhav, it would have been a really painful sight, sorry guys! But the second innings, wow, that was some hitting from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis, phew!