IPL 2021: ‘Chennai Super Kings do not have bowlers who can bowl the yorkers regularly,’ says Irfan Pathan

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) failed to defend a mammoth total of 218 during match 27 against defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2021. Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan said that the CSK bowlers’ inability to bowl yorkers regularly at the death overs is a concern for them in this season. 

CSK speedsters Lungi Ngidi and Shadul Thakur recorded spells of 4-0-62-0 and 4-0-56-1 at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. MI all-rounder Kieron Pollard was found toying with the bowlers in the end as he clinched the game for his side with an astonishing knock of 87* runs off just 34 balls.

“Absolutely and that was seen today as well. Yes, the Mumbai Indians batted very well but if you see the shots, it was all bad bowling. I feel you need to especially have bowlers who can bowl the yorkers, the Chennai Super Kings do not have any such bowler,” said Pathan.

“Can you give a name who can bowl six yorkers under pressure? RCB has Siraj, Mumbai Indians have Bumrah and he gets support from Trent Boult at the other end. In Delhi, you get Rabada,” added Pathan.

‘CSK need to perform better if they want to win the tournament’: Pathan

The cricketer-turned commentator said that the Chennai-based franchise has got a good all-round team with seven or eight bowling options. However, he reckoned that death bowling has been a concern for them and they need to perform well in that department in order to win the title.

“There is no doubt CSK has a good all-round team, they have 7-8 bowling options but they do not have one or two bowlers who can defend the runs at the death on difficult pitches,” said Pathan.

“The ball was not getting wet today. If the ball gets wet, you face a lot of difficulties in bowling the yorker. Sam Curran showed how it can be done, bowled some good yorkers but after that one over, no one bowled yorkers properly. They will have to perform better if CSK wants to win the tournament,” signed off Pathan.

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