CSK faced yet another defeat at Chepauk, and that almost vanished their playoff chances. The probability of them qualifying for this position is very less and nearly impossible. CSK failed to defend the target of 155 as their bowling attack once again couldn’t capitalize on early breakthroughs. Let’s look at the reasons for CSK’s defeat.
Lack of big innings from the Top order
CSK is the only team this season that has yet to figure out their top 3. They have tried multiple options like Rachin Racindra, Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, and against SRH, Sam Curran came in at No.3 for them.
The highest score from a CSK batter this season was Devon Conway’s 68 (48) against PBKS. None of the CSK batters have reached the 70-run mark this season. You expect such big knocks from the top order to score a big total on board or while chasing big targets like 180 or 200.
CSK are now trying two youngsters at the top, Shaik Rasheed and Ayush Mhatre. You can’t put pressure on them and expect them to carry the batting order. Ayush Mhatre have a better opportunity to cement their place in the X1 for the next season by performing well in the upcoming matches.
Yesterday also, CSK had a good start but lost all their top 3 batters within the powerplay. Sam Curran, who got a promotion in the batting order, should have played with more responsibility as a senior player. The opening slot is now filled by the two young boys. CSK should decide on the No. 3 position.
Deepak Hooda got a chance yesterday and was sent in very late after the 5th wicket. He has a good record in T20s at no.3, and CSK have never used him in that position yet. He had done well at No.3 for LSG and has scored a T20 century for India in 2022.
If CSK are playing him, he could have been given a chance at the top order. He has an average of 49 while playing at no.3 for India.
Wickets at regular intervals
In the last match against MI, Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja were criticized for taking too much time to settle and not accelerating in the middle overs. That became the point of difference for the defeat. To rectify that, both Jadeja and Dube tried to hit hard and lost their wickets early.
CSK batters failed to construct partnerships and kept losing wickets at regular intervals, which didn’t allow them to accelerate in the death overs.
CSK in powerplay – 50/3 in 6 overs
CSK in middle overs – 80/3 in 10 overs from 6 to 16 overs.
Showing aggressive intent is fine, but players should try to add some value to their wicket and not lose it cheaply and take calculated risks in the middle overs to keep the scoring rate higher. This will set a base for the finishers to go all out in the death overs.
The pitch was a bit slow and had some assistance for spinners and pacers when they bowled slower ones. CSK should have calculated the innings and aimed for a target like 180 or 170, which could have been a winning total on this pitch.
They could have also played Anshul Kamboj in the X1 and kept Matheesha Pathirana and Nathan Ellis in the impact player list. They would have had the option to call Nathan Ellis, who had better, slower ones than Pathirana.
Poor bowling rotation
MS Dhoni didn’t use the best of their bowlers yesterday. After the powerplay, he introduced Sam Curran and gave two overs to him, which completely changed the momentum. Sam Curran bowled some loose balls, which relieved the pressure created by Jadeja in the previous overs.
Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad could have bowled one more over in that phase instead of Sam Curran, because there was a heavy impact of dew in the second half. Spinners could have had better control with the slightly drier ball.
There were also 2 overs of Khaleel and one over of Anshul Kamboj was left, if Dhoni wanted to go with the pacer in the middle. Giving the first over to Sam Curran is fine. He went for 12 runs in that over. But giving him the second over after he didn’t create any chances or impact in his first over could have been avoided. He gave 25 runs in his 2 overs. 2 big overs like that are enough for the opponent to comeback into the game in such tricky chases.
Also Read:Â CSK vs SRH: A String Of Records Galore After SRH Beat CSK