“They looked like champions” – Sunil Gavaskar all praise for Chennai Super Kings for their improved showing in IPL 2021


“They looked like champions” – Sunil Gavaskar all praise for Chennai Super Kings for their improved showing in IPL 2021

Sunil Gavaskar

After experiencing a heartbreaking exit without qualifying for the playoffs last year, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) returned to winning ways in this year’s edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). CSK had won 5 out of the seven matches and were second in the points table when the BCCI was forced to postpone IPL 2021 indefinitely on May 4 as players from different camps tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

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Last year had been nothing short of disappointment as Chennai Super Kings failed to qualify for the Playoffs for the first time in the history of IPL. There was also criticism made on the team for maintaining a slow run rate during the Powerplays and a lack of pace bowlers to bowl at 145 Kmph or more, consistently.

Many cricket analysts had made their predictions of CSK finishing outside the playoff spots in IPL 2021. Even after the auctions, there was no great expectation from the franchise to produce anything better than last year as their rivals had inform dangerous players. But as always the captain did have a plan for the revival of CSK.

There was a renewed energy – Sunil Gavaskar

Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar spoke about Chennai Super Kings’ season today by writing a column. “All the other teams were in top form with last year’s disappointing team, Chennai Super Kings, looking like the champion it usually had been all these years. There was a renewed energy about the team this time, though there were no major changes to its squad,” read the column from Sportstar written by Gavaskar.

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“The promotion of Moeen Ali to the top of the order at No. 3 turned out to be a masterstroke as the left-handed batsman produced some blistering innings. The seasoned Faf du Plessis was in cracking form, too, and, along with the promising Ruturaj Gaekwad, gave the team some top starts.

Moeen Ali was promoted to No.3 in batting order in place of Raina, which even the England National team hasn’t tried out yet. This promotion of batting order was a master stroke by the CSK Captain as the England All-rounder amassed 206 runs in six matches for the team at a strike rate of 157.25. This changed the approach of CSK’s batting in the Powerplays and middle overs as the team showed an aggressive approach despite the fall of wickets.

Faf and Ruturaj were promising opening stand for CSK as the combo putting up 100 run partnerships thrice in the league which helped the CSK bowlers defend with ease.

Sam Curran continues to impress

Sam Curran and Moeen Ali
Sam Curran and Moeen Ali

“Sam Curran continues to impress and improve with every game and bids fair to be considered a proper all-rounder now. It’s the final overs’ bowling that the side needs to strengthen as was evident in the match against Mumbai when, despite scoring 218, it lost the game off the last ball,” Gavaskar wrote.

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This year, CSK were found to have the deepest batting line up with almost everyone having the ability to hit boundaries from the first ball and Sam Curran found himself to be batting at no.8. But the captain was reasonable in promoting him for finishing the job in the death overs.

The young all-rounder was obligated to bowl in death overs which he performed perfectly by containing runs and providing breakthroughs. Still there are problems with other death bowlers in containing runs in the last four overs which has to be taken care of to avoid losing matches which should be closed out.

A total of 6 players (4 KKR, 1 SRH, 1 DC), 2 coaches (both from CSK) and a bus cleaner tested positive for Covid-19 during IPL 2021, which had prevented CSK and the other teams from continuing their form. CSK fans would certainly hope the team continues their dominating form in the rescheduled IPL 2021 which is likely to take place in the later part of this year.

Also read: You have Hardik Pandya, but you need to have one more all-rounder in the Indian team: Shivam Dube

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