One of the chief architects for CSK’s record run chase of 200+ for the first time since 2019 was Urvil Patel. The right-hander who does wicket-keeping as well came to bat at 3 inside the power play and made it count for his side. Urvil Patel was the real star and the difference between the two sides. He came in when the CSK team got a decent start and then just murdered the LSG bowling in all parts. It was a special innings, one which he will cherish and look to build on in the latter stages of the tournament.
Urvil Patel came out to bat at 3, and after taking a single on the first ball, he was dealing in sixes. He just smashed the bowlers that came their way. He smashed 4 sixes in one over off Avesh Khan and then smashed Digvesh Rathi for 4 more sixes as 25 runs each were taken off each over. CSK scored 50 off the last two overs of power play to zoom ahead in the contest. It showed that Urvil was batting on a different pitch than the rest of the batters.
Urvil Patel’s breathtaking innings flattens LSG
Despite CSK pulling things back after the power play, LSG still managed to post 203 on the board. For CSK, they hadn’t chased 180+ since 2019 and were battling the odds. For CSK to chase this down, they needed a solid power play and a start from their openers. The openers, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson, gave the team a head start in the power play. Samson came out all guns blazing, while Gaikwad also complemented him really well. Samson made 28 off 14 balls before being cleaned up by Rathi. The score was 45/1 in 3.4 overs when Urvil Patel walked out to bat.
What happened next was electrifying to say the least, which left most fans and experts in awe of this young man. Avesh came into the attack as an Impact Player and was taken to the cleaners by Patel. Mind you, there was no slogging, just clean hitting. He hit Avesh for 25 runs in the over, smashing 4 sixes, while in the next over, Digvesh Rathi came and disappeared for 25 runs as well, and Patel was in the mood as he took the score to 97/1 in 6 overs of power play.
Urvil Patel completed his fifty in 13 balls, which was the joint fastest in IPL history, level with Yashasvi Jaiswal, and after getting to his fifty, the heat and humidity conditions slowed him down, and he became tired. He overhit the ball and lost his shape. He got a reprieve when batting on 62* but 3 runs later fell for 65 to give LSG some relief. Things slowed down for CSK post Patel’s dismissal, but the damage was done as CSK made heavy weather post his dismissal and eventually crossed the line in the final over. Patel was the difference between the two sides.
Urvil Patel’s Performance So FarÂ
There was no place for Urvil Patel in the initial stages of the IPL in the CSK side, as Ayush Mhatre was doing well and going great guns. It is after Mhatre injured his hamstring that a vacancy popped up, and Urvil Patel came into the side. Urvil debuted for CSK last season when the team was playing horrible cricket, but he played some little cameos and showed his talent there. Thereafter, his time came after an unfortunate injury, and it was his turn to shine.
He made his IPL 2026 debut against GT and missed out, scoring only 4 off 3 balls. Then he played a few cameos to give the team momentum. He scored 24 off 12 balls against MI in Mumbai. He scored a quickfire 17 off 9 balls against DC in New Delhi, and now he scored an innings of note, where he scored 65 off 23 balls and hit 2 fours and 8 sixes. This can be classified as a cameo, but it is of significant nature as the required rate was under control, and CSK, although they made a mess of it, managed to hold their nerves in the end.
Urvil Patel is a man for the future for CSK, and he and the Men in Yellow will be hoping he delivers some consistency at this level and keeps on performing for his side as CSK heads to the business end of the tournament with work to do for playoff qualification. Urvil’s role will be important for CSK if they wish and aspire to go into the next stage, i.e. playoffs.
What Lies Ahead
CSK will be back in action on 15th May, when they take on LSG again this time at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, with LSG out and nothing to lose now. CSK needs to keep winning. Tonight, we are in Dharamsala for PBKS VS DC in the North India Derby. DC needs a win to keep their mathematical hopes alive, while a win for PBKS will take them back to the top of the points table.
Let’s see how things unfold in this contest later tonight.
Also Read:Â CSK vs LSG: Survival of the Fittest As CSK Hosts LSG