IPL 2020 | DC vs CSK: What Experts said as Shikhar Dhawan cashes in on dropped chances to win a thriller against Daddies’ Army
The phrase ‘catches win you matches’ might be a cliché but surely not a wrong one to describe Chennai Super Kings’ five-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals in Sharjah. The fact that three catches of Dhawan (including two dollies) were dropped on his way to his maiden IPL hundred leaves you needing no other explanation as to why CSK lost the game even after making 179 in the first innings on a track which was supposedly spin-friendly.
However, there is an explanation for that. Even after the dropped catches, Chennai had a chance to rescue themselves after a superb penultimate over by Sam Curran in which he gave away just four runs and also took the wicket of Alex Carey. Now, the yellow brigade had 17 runs to defend in the last over. But instead of going for a proven Dwayne Bravo, Dhoni went for Ravindra Jadeja, left-arm orthodox against two left-handers in Shikhar and Axar Patel. As a result, the game was over way too quickly than anyone would have thought. Jadeja, much like earlier chances, when he had been entrusted to bowl the last over, ended up getting hit for 22 off the five deliveries, courtesy three huge sixes from Axar Patel.
Later on, in the post-match presentation, Dhoni explained that since Bravo was not available due to injury, he had to take a call between Jadeja and Karn Sharma and therefore he went for Jadeja. But the question here is, why did he not plan for any such untoward happening? How come a fully fit Bravo becomes unfit all of a sudden? And can Chennai afford to have such blip ups in a tournament where their chances are hanging by a thread ?
Questions are many, but unfortunately, there are hardly any answers from the ‘great’ leader.
Captains’ Viewpoint
Shreyas Iyer who played the match even after injury and battled through it seemed visibly happy after the victory. After the match, the winning captain admitted that he ‘was very nervous’ in the last phase of the game as he ‘didn't know what to say because it was getting to the last over’.
The Mumbai born further explained, “I knew that if Shikhar stays till the end, we will win. But the way Axar struck the ball was amazing to see.” Talking about Axar Patel, Iyer revealed a team secret that they give Man of the Match Awards to their unsung heroes after the game. “Whenever we give the Man of the Match awards in our dressing room, he is always there. He is an unsung hero. His preparation is always on point and he knows what he is doing,” he said.
Underscoring the importance of team bonding, which he has been doing in almost every post-match chat, Iyer said that as a team, Delhi have gelled together quite well. “We've been gelling well as a team from the first day of our camp. We know the strengths and weaknesses of each other. We've embraced each other's successes and failures in the same way. I just told one of the teammates today that today the way he batted, it was really mesmerizing to see. Also gives me some breathing space as captain.”
MS Dhoni, the losing captain, not for the first time in this season’s IPL, resolved the mystery as to why Bravo was in the dressing room when he should have been bowling the last over. “Bravo was not fit; he went out and was really not able to come back. That was the reason we had to bowl (Jadeja). The option was between Karn and Jaddu so I went ahead with Jaddu. Maybe not enough,” said Dhoni.
Hurt with the dropped catches, Dhoni said, “Shikhar's wicket was important, we did drop him quite a few times. He's somebody if he is batting, he'll keep ticking the scoreboard. He'll keep taking his chances. If he's there on the crease, he'll always maintain a good strike rate. I felt his wicket was crucial.”
The 39-year old further went on to lament about how the pitch changed over the course of the two innings and how dew helped the batters in the second innings, making the first inning look short of 10 runs in the end. “There was a difference between the first innings and the second innings. The wicket behaved slightly better in the second innings, it came on slightly better which made it slightly easy for the batsmen. There was just enough dew to make it slightly better,” he said.
“Because of that, it becomes slightly more difficult to score in the first innings in the middle overs and slightly easier in the middle overs of the second innings. That could make the difference because you are minus 10 and then you have to stop those extra 10 runs in the second innings. 20 runs is a lot of difference, especially if the team is batting well,” calculated Dhoni, not as an excuse but maybe out of compulsion of proving that he and his team were not the only guilty party after dropping so many catches.
Sam Curran bowled a brilliant 19th over and calling it the biggest positive from the game, Dhoni said, “Sam's last over, the way he bowled. He needs to be convinced that he can execute outside off yorkers that is something most of the coaching staff want the bowlers to bowl. If you are not comfortable doing it, you can't really push in the game.”
Expert Opinion
The experts were of the opinion that fielding was the most lagging part of Chennai’s entire effort and the fact that Dhoni was unable to assess the injury of Bravo and then shuffle his bowlers accordingly, was also picked as a glaring mistake by the veteran.
Delhi Capitals have had a different match-winner in every game, as suggested by the Man of the Match awards won by its players. Putting out that stat, Cricket statistician and producer, Sarang Bhalerao explained how the Capitals' have been able to outshine others because they have really not been dependent on one man or even for that matter two to win them the games, a refreshing change from the early years of the team.
Senior cricket expert and analyst, Boria Majumdar chose to point out the fault in the CSK think tank and especially in the captain for not being able to plan the last over accordingly.
Aakash Chopra, the cricketer turned Pundit of the game also pointed out to the Chennai team, especially highlighting their ordinary fielding which cost them the match this time around.
Ace analyst and commentator Harsha Bhogle used the match to look beyond it and predicted as to who all can make it to the playoffs this season.
For veteran cricket journalist, Ayaz Memon, it was Shikhar Dhawan's brilliant innings which became the difference between the teams at the end of the day.
The expert's segment looks a bit unfulfilling without a sarcastic yet, inclusive of the game tweet by Mr. funny bones in the cricketing field, Gaurav Kalra. As always, he chose something that hit the chord with both the fans of Delhi as well as of Chennai.
For Chennai to have any chance of qualifying, they now need to win all their games starting from the next one that they play against struggling Rajasthan Royals on Monday, 19th October. But Delhi Capitals can take it easy as they are almost there with 12 points from their campaign so far.
 "Sayantan Bhattacharjee")
