IPL 2021 | PBKS vs CSK - What Experts Said as Deepak Chahar masterclass grants Chennai mammoth victory

Things went horribly wrong for the Punjab Kings in their second match of the Indian Premier League as they were handed a 6-wicket defeat by the Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday, 16 April. Bouncing off the highest score of the season after scoring 221 runs against Rajasthan Royals on match number four, Punjab returned to score the lowest score of the season (106) in their registered 20 overs. 

The mega top order comprising KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and Chris Gayle were sent back to the hut within the first five overs of the playing leaving the rebranded franchise gasping for air. The wrecker in chief - Deepak Chahar, rioted through the Punjab frontline bowling four overs upfront. First up, he uprooted a Mayank Agarwal’s off stump with a riveting outswinger, that moved in the air and off the pitch to make for a very ugly dismissal. He subsequently picked up the wickets of Chris Gayle, Deepak Hooda and Nicholas Pooran to send back the entire established batting arsenal of the team. If not for Shahrukh Khan’s defiant 47 off 36, Kings’ could have looked way more embarrassing than they were made to look after the game.

Coming into an easy chase, CSK made quite a meal of it at the start of the innings, getting stuck against some quality fast bowling. With the fast bowlers still earning some purchase from the surface, Ruturaj Gaikwad along with Faf du Plessis got stuck in the crease and the scoreboard seemed to move nowhere in the first three overs of the innings. Bogged down by the pressure, in the last ball of the 5th over, Gaikwad in a poor attempt to pull a short ball from left-handed Arshdeep Singh, ended up lobbing up an easy chance to Deepak Hooda stationed at deep mid-wicket.

The wicket came as a blessing in disguise as Moeen Ali, relishing the new top-order role went berserk turning the tide of the game. At the time of his dismissal in the 13th over, Ali had provided enough impetus for CSK to not lose the game even if they tried hard.

Post his 46 off 31 balls CSK lost two quick wickets in Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu but were safely put over the line before the conclusion of the 16th over.

Captains’ viewpoints

Coming to talk after the game, a visibly dejected KL Rahul spoke about how the pitch played differently than they had anticipated earlier and that there was not much way back for them after losing five wickets in the first six overs.

“There's not much more to say. When any team loses five wickets in the first six or seven overs.... It [The pitch] did [play differently]. It was more sticky and tacky than what it looked like. Deepak with his knuckle ball got a couple of wickets. Myself getting run-out. It wasn't a 110-wicket, maybe 150-160.”

Rahul spoke about the positives from the game as well and stated that when they review the game later on, the way that the Punjab pacers bowled would be an asset going forward into the tournament. “We have pace in our attack and we obviously want to use that. Playing in India can be tough and cruel. Meredith and Richardson did try to execute the plan [against RR] and it was good to see them come back. We will review the key points that we spoke before the game and like you mentioned yourself that's how cricket goes. You smile and see how you can do better if we get a similar situation when we play at the Wankhede again. It's important to learn from our mistakes, that's the kind of team that we want to be.” Rahul added.

MS Dhoni marked his 200th game for Chennai in T20 competitions and there could not have been a better victory against a well-rounded side. While he did not have to do much himself, Dhoni’s use of Chahar up front earned plaudits from the minds sitting in the commentary box.

“Makes me feel very good and it has been a very long journey [on playing 200 matches for CSK]. It started in 2008 - played in SA, Dubai, and back home. Never thought Mumbai would be our home. In 2011, the last time that we were happy with the Chennai wicket. Before that, there was spin, but it also helped fast bowlers. After the wicket was relaid, we found it difficult to adjust to conditions. This is a very good wicket, but it depends on the conditions on that day. The ball moved today, but it didn't swing around a lot. There was no dew and enough seam movement. Overall the years, he [Chahar] has matured into a death bowler too but he's somebody who gets more purchase than other bowlers. If you're looking to attack, why not finish his first four overs. Bravo can bowl at the death. It's not a secret.” 

Shedding some light into the new role for Moeen Ali at the top of the order, Dhoni stated that a gifted timer of the ball needs to get more batting time.

“We felt if Moeen bats up the order, we can make use of the resources that we got. Moeen is a very good timer of the ball and plays authentic shots. We have to make the most of the resources. I thought that [lbw call] was high and that's what the bowler needs to take. That's where the bowler's input is very important. I always thought DRS is one to take howlers away from the game. You take the gamble when it's really important or the last over of the game.” Dhoni concluded.

Experts’ opinions

It is a no brainer that much of the conversation today was around Deepak Chahar who took the first maiden wicket in this edition of the IPL. He seemed to have impressed the Indian national team coach Ravi Shastri who wrote on Twitter that Chahar's ability to swing the ball both way in the initial overs can even undo the best players in the game.

Veteran commentator Ayaz Memon put the nail in the head and added on to Rahul's statement of losing early wickets.

With the match wrapping up before 10:45 IST, presenter Chloe Amanda Bailey thanked Super Kings for not keeping her up late in the night.

 
One particular incident that caught people's eye was the odd umpiring process in the potential dismissal of Faf du Plessis in the 14th over of the game. Batting against Riley Meredith, Faf failed to connect a short ball that the Punjab outfit thought was edged off his glove to the keeper. On appealing, the on-field umpire first sent it for a bouncer check (second of the over), a review that came back negative. The third umpire then asked the on-field umpire to call it an out without even considering DRS. After it being called out, the decision was reviewed by the DRS where it showed that Faf had not edged that delivery.

A bit of a confusion really! 

The process amused Mumbai Indians' all-rounder Jimmy Neesham like it did us all.

T20 cricket is a game of intent, and while it was present from one end of the CSK batting with Moeen Ali attacking every single bowler, youngster Ruturaj Gaikwad found himself on the wrong side of things failing to connect anything that came his way. Twitter was impressed with Ali's approach but feared that Gaikwad might be axed for the next game.

With all teams having played two games, CSK stand at the second position in the league table with two points after their mammoth victory against Punjab. The quick finish to the game meant that they have run rate of +0.616 that might come in very handy once and if the tournament goes down to the wire. The Royal Challengers Bangalore currently rule the roost with two consecutive victories on a trot while the David Warner led Sunrisers Hyderabad trod at the bottom of the league letting slip two easy games from their hands.