IPL 2021: ‘Chennai Super Kings can chase any kind of target on good batting tracks,’ says Brian Lara

IPL 2021: ‘Chennai Super Kings can chase any kind of target on good batting tracks,’ says Brian Lara

Brian Lara and Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) currently hold the pole position in the Points Table with five wins out of six matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL). After losing their maiden game against Delhi Capitals (DC), the MS Dhoni-led side registered five successive victories. Moreover, they have looked quite dominating in all three departments with a complete squad. 

Former West Indies cricketer Brian Lara leapt praises for CSK skipper MS Dhoni for not disturbing their opening pair despite failures for them in the initial matches. CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad miserably failed in the first three games and everyone started criticizing him. However, the youngster bounced back to smash two fifties in the next three fixtures. 

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“Yeah, beautiful. It’s unbelievable that when they started, they looked out of sorts. Especially Ruturaj, the way he started, his foot wasn’t moving properly. But MS Dhoni stuck with him, he stuck with the opening partnership which is great. And they are laying the foundation now. They did not look disturbed at all at any point of time today (Wednesday),” Brian Lara said.

‘You can’t leave out Moeen Ali too’: Lara

Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali

Brian Lara also highlighted the importance of English all-rounder Moeen Ali in the CSK camp. He said that looking at the current form, the Chennai-based franchise can chase any kind of target on good batting tracks. 

“Their top 3 are important. You can’t leave out Moeen Ali as well. If they bat well, they look like they can chase any kind of target on good batting tracks. And if their bowlers are doing well on good bowling tracks, then they still have got a batting unit to survive it.

“I think they are the team to beat at the moment. They don’t have big somebody like Andre Russell who is going to go out there and score a 50 in 15 balls but they have got a team which is most important,” he added.

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