IPL 2022 | CSK vs GT | Star, Underperformer and Unlucky Player of the contest

Gujarat Titans (GT) faced Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 29th match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 at the MCA Stadium in Pune. The fans expected a close competition between the two teams, and the fixture did not disappoint them. It was a thriller encounter that went down to the last over.

GT managed to come out on top in the last over by a margin of 3 wickets and found their way to the top of the table. David Miller's outstanding knock of 94* runs saved the day for his team.

While chasing 170 runs, the Titans started off in the worst possible fashion losing wickets up top. At one stage, it looked as if GT was well out of the race, but then came a twist to the tale as Killer Miller returned to his best and skipper Rashid Khan stepped up to help him out.

Match Situation: In the 13th over of the GT innings, they were 87 for 5. They needed 83 runs off 44 deliveries at this stage. The required rate was 11.31 runs per over rate. The standing captain of the team, Rashid Khan, walked out at this stage. David Miller was going strong at the other end but needed support. Rashid played just the right sort of knock required at this stage and eased the pressure off Miller.

Let us see how Rashid played in the pressure situation.

Table: Rashid Khan’s strike rate vs CSK

Observation: At the beginning of his knock Rashid Khan found it difficult to middle the ball. He just scored seven runs in the first ten balls at a strike rate of 70. But momentum shifted in Rashid’s favour in a matter of four deliveries. 

In the first four balls of the 18th over of Chris Jordan, the Afghan spin king smashed three sixes and a four. So it went from 48 required off three overs to 23 runs off 12 deliveries in no time. Even after Rashid was dismissed in the 19th over, Miller kept his composure and took GT home. 

But the importance of Rashid Khan’s knock lies in the fact that he did not allow Miller to succumb to pressure. This swashbuckling knock from Rashid makes him the ‘Superstar of the Match’.

Underperformer of the Match: The IPL teams go into the auction with a particular strategy and buy players according to their needs. CSK bought Chris Jordan for his death bowling abilities. He is reputed to be a death specialist with a great skill to execute perfect yorkers.

CSK entrusted him with the job last night. GT needed 48 runs in 3 overs, and a 10 to 12 runs over would have been acceptable given the situation of the match. But Jordan failed to execute his yorkers and kept bowling low full tosses and half-volleys, which Rashid Khan found ideal. 

Rashid took him to the cleaners scoring 25 runs off the over. CSK was thus thrown off the match in a single over. Jordan finished the game conceding 58 runs in his 3.5 overs. Lack of potency and failure to execute plans in the death makes Chris Jordan the ‘Underperformer of the Match’.

Unlucky Performer of the Match: Ruturaj Gaikwad was the orange cap winner in IPL 2021, and CSK hoped he would continue his form this season. However, in the first five matches of the tournament, he could only manage 35 runs. He was out of touch and couldn't provide CSK with a solid start. 

But yesterday was a different story as he looked in supreme touch. Gaikwad played a perfect knock displaying all the elements of a matured player. The Indian opener scored 73 runs off 48 deliveries and was the main reason CSK could reach the total of 169 runs. 

But the innings went in vain as CSK ended in a losing cause as the team’s bowling lineup succumbed under pressure. Ruturaj Gaikwad is the ‘Unlucky Performer of the Match.’