Tushar Deshpande returned 4/27 in three overs against SRH in Chennai
CSK captain Gaikwad acknowledged that pacer Tushar Deshpande brought the momentum back into the side, which was missing this season.
Defending Champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 78 runs on Sunday night to claim the 3rd spot on the IPL 2024 points table. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad smashed a magnificent 98 while Daryl Mitchell and Shivam Dube made notable contributions, powering CSK to a daunting 213-run total. In reply, Tushar Deshpande’s breathtaking bowling display in powerplay made the difference for the hosts in their big win.
Deshpande put his heart and soul into his bowling, returning figures of 4/27 off three overs. Three of those wickets came in powerplay, which broke the back of the mighty SRH batting lineup, led by Travis Head.
CSK captain Gaikwad acknowledged that the pacer brought the momentum back to the side, which was missing this season.
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“One area where we lost momentum in a few games was not getting wickets in the powerplay. It is the only way we can put the opposition on the back foot. Deshpande bowled really well. His hard work is paying off,” said Gaikwad.
With the dew giving spinners a torrid time, the onus was on Ravindra Jadeja to keep his line and length intact, and the wily spinner bowled a measly spell, giving away just 22 runs in his four overs while also taking a wicket.
“Special mention to Jaddu as well. In these wet conditions, four overs 20-25 runs, for me that was a match-turning spell.
“I’m not very vocal. Everyone is very experienced in the dressing room and you can’t just go up to seniors and tell them what to do. So I just take a back seat,” said Gaikwad following the win, which propelled CSK to third position on the points table.
Gaikwad added that at no point in time was he thinking about a century, saying that he was ‘upset’ with himself for missing a few big shots.
“I was never even thinking about the hundred. I was just trying to make sure we get to 220 or whatever extra runs possible. Even in the last game, I wasn’t thinking about the hundred.
“I was upset I missed a few shots. At the innings break I thought it would cost us. But in the end, it worked out. Last game we made some errors, some loose balls here and there, and not really up to the mark in the field. Today we came up with plans, stuck to them and we were excellent in the field.”
(With Agency Inputs)
