IPL 2021 | CSK vs PBKS: What Experts said after KL Rahul's brilliant knock demolishes Chennai bowling

Punjab Kings captain KL Rahul went all guns blazing against Chennai Super Kings in Dubai on Thursday after he remained unbeaten for 98 and took his team over the line while chasing 135 in 13 overs. The right-hander’s knock included seven fours and eight maximums during the course. 

The Punjab team once again got a steady start after Rahul and Mayank Agarwal scored 46 runs for the first wicket. But Agarwal’s departure for 12 off 12 after he was trapped in front of the stumps saw PBKS losing wickets at regular intervals. 

But the skipper Rahul was in some different mood as he just held the fort from the other end and struck the Super Kings all around the park. Shardul Thakur was once again the pick of the bowlers in Chennai camp after he returned with figures of 3/28 in three overs. 

Earlier, the Punjab Kings bowlers picked up early wickets and didn’t really let the batsmen, barring Faf du Plessis take an upper hand. Faf, who opened the innings went on to notch up a half-century while wickets kept falling around him and CSK were reduced to 61/5 to eventually get restricted to 134/6 in 20 overs. 

Chris Jordan and Arshdeep Singh picked up a couple of wickets while Shami and Ravi Bishnoi had a scalp apiece to their names. 

CSK captain MS Dhoni said that the side has been a bit out of touch in the last two-three matches but that’s part and parcel of the game. 

“You have to cope (when it comes to mental or skill aspect) with that. We had played very good cricket to reach the playoff stages. We had a few bad games 2 out of 3 and one we felt like we could have a comeback and that's part and parcel d in leagues like these, you have to be at your best,” he said during the post-match presentation. 

Experts’ Opinion

Commentator Harsha Bhogle lavished praise on KL Rahul for the kind of knock that he unleashed against CSK. 

“Watching KL Rahul bat today was like being at an art gallery and seeing one jaw dropping exhibit after another,” Harsha tweeted. 

Journalist Ayaz Memon also lauded KL Rahul for his match-winning innings. 

“Brilliant knock by KL Rahul, perhaps best in second phase. Not the first time CSKhave got such a hammering. RRearlier chased down 189. After starting with streak of wins, CSK have hit a trough. PBKSsuperb tonight but unlikely to be in play-off. Have themselves to blame,” he wrote on Twitter. 

KL Rahul went past the 600-run mark in this year’s IPL edition. Mentioning the same, former India opener Aakash Chopra was all in praise of Rahul. 

“Kamaal Rahul Ki Lajawaab Paari…aise hi khelte raho. 600+ runs in last four seasons. What. A. Player,” he tweeted. 

Former India bowler Irfan Pathan appreciated Rahul’s ‘charismatic’ knock. “KL Rahul batting in full flow is a charismatic site!,” he wrote on Twitter. 

The Chennai Super Kings have already made a place for themselves in the playoffs.