Chennai Tremendous Kings acquired again to successful methods after two away defeats and handed Kolkata Knight Riders their first loss of IPL 2024 by slowing them down with spin on a cheesy Chepauk floor. In contrast to the final two matches the place none of the dwelling spinners accounted for a wicket at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, on Monday, Ravindra Jadeja and Co had been the architects of the seven-wicket victory on a typical Chepauk observe that remained gradual, assisted spinners and made it troublesome for batters to attain.
KKR captain Shreyas Iyer deconstructed the loss, saying his workforce could not assess the situations shortly sufficient as they modified “tremendously” after the first six overs.
“I personally really feel we fell short in terms of assessing the wicket,” Iyer mentioned after the match. “We had been phenomenal in the powerplay however after that, we could not capitalise, we misplaced consecutive wickets. We weren’t capable of assess the situations as shortly as potential. It fully modified after the powerplay and scoring runs off this wicket wasn’t straightforward.
“Clearly, they know situations fairly effectively they usually bowled in line with their plan. It was a bit cheesy, particularly even when the hard-hitters got here in, it wasn’t straightforward for them to go [big] proper from the first ball. It modified tremendously after the powerplay. We had been attempting to assemble our innings, did not go to plan. We take these learnings and transfer ahead.”
After leaking 56 runs in the powerplay, CSK pulled issues again because of Jadeja’s 3 for 18. Add Maheesh Theekshana and Rachin Ravindra into the combine, and the spinners mixed to bowl 9 overs for simply 50 runs and 4 wickets to limit KKR to a below-par 137 for 9.
“We had been in a cushty place at the starting, we thought 160-170 could be a fantastic rating on this wicket. Even after they performed towards RCB, the situations had been pretty comparable. In order that was our plan however while you lose consecutive wickets, it is troublesome to hold ahead momentum,” Iyer mentioned.
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who led the chase with an unbeaten 67 off 58, felt it was a “barely difficult” wicket and that the onus was on him to bat by to take the workforce dwelling after the No. 3 Ajinkya Rahane strained his calf. It was additionally an vital knock for Gaikwad personally, who lastly contributed definitively after scores of 15, 46, 1, 26 in the earlier 4 video games.
“Bit of nostalgia for me,” Gaikwad mentioned of batting with MS Dhoni in the remaining half of the chase. “My first IPL fifty, Mahi bhai was there with me to complete the match. Just about the similar scenario as we speak. I really feel with Jinx [Rahane] barely injured, it was my position to remain until the finish on a wicket which was barely difficult. I did not need to put the kids in a stress scenario. Total, a very good recreation for us.
“I’d nonetheless say it was a 150-160 wicket. Did not suppose it was a six-hitting pitch however undoubtedly 160.
“I would not say mine is a gradual begin [he was on 9 off 11 at one stage], in T20s there are occasions you nick off one or two balls, typically you want a bit of luck to get going. In the present day it was good I might take a while a bit, possibly one thing for specialists to speak about, with my strike charge, however nonetheless good to get a win.”
With this win, CSK have six factors from 5 video games and occupy fourth spot on the factors desk, whereas KKR are second with six factors from 4 video games. CSK will likely be on the street for the subsequent couple of video games earlier than returning dwelling for the match towards Lucknow Tremendous Giants on April 23. KKR, in the meantime, will head again to Eden Gardens for 5 dwelling video games in a row.
