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Tag: csk

  • Punjab Kings restrict Chennai Super Kings to 134 for 6

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Punjab Kings limited Chennai Super Kings to 134 for 6 despite Faf du Plessis’ 76 off 55 balls in their final IPL league match here on Thursday.

    The CSK score was largely due to the fighting half-century by veteran South African player du Plessis and the 26 runs in the last two overs.

    For Punjab, leggie Ravi Bishnoi impressed in a spell of 4-0-25-1 which included the scalp of CSK captain M S Dhoni while Arshdeep Singh (2/35) and Chris Jordan (2/20) did a good job for Punjab.

    Du Plessis waged a lone battle, ensuring that the Punjab bowlers did not run away with the game with a hard-working half-century.

    The 18th over saw him hit two boundaries off Jordan’s third over as CSK continued the attempt to cobble up a respectable score.

    The South African hit two more sixes, one off Arshdeep and one off Mohammad Shami in the final over to give a much-needed push to the CSK innings towards the end.

    Ravindra Jadeja remained not out on 15 (17 balls, 1 six).

    That only 30 runs came in the powerplay indicated the CSK batters’ difficulty in getting Shami & Co away.

    Coupled with the regular loss of wickets, the three-time champions crawled to 50 in the 10th over.

    Shami, in particular, was hard to get away.

    His first spell of three was brilliant, as he conceded only six runs.

    Left-arm pacer Arshdeep continued to impress and got the wickets of the in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad (12, 14 balls, 1 four) and Moeen Ali (0).

    Gaikwad hit one four before he top-edged an attempted pull of Arshdeep to give Shahrukh Khan on the leg-side an easy catch.

    Moeen, who was in good nick in the first phase in India, failed to trouble the scorers, edging one to Rahul to give Arshdeep his second scalp.

    Robin Uthappa, who replaced Suresh Raina in the playing XI, failed to make an impression, falling for just 2.

    His attempted pull off Jordan saw Harpreet Brar take a very good catch at deep-square leg.

    Dhoni, who has been struggling for form, made 12 before a drive away from his body off Bishnoi’s googly took the inside edge and rolled on to the stumps to compound CSK’s problems.

  • Still uncertain whether I will be playing next year, depends on retention policy: CSK skipper MS Dhoni

    By PTI

    DUBAI: The enigmatic Mahendra Singh Dhoni has no doubt that he would be seen in yellow even in 2022 but at this point, he does not know whether that yellow would be representative of his franchise Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.

    Speaking after the toss for CSK’s IPL game against Punjab Kings, the 40-year-old was asked about whether he would be staying with the franchise which is synonymous with him since the IPL’s inception.

    “Well, you can see me in yellow next year. But whether I will be playing for CSK? There are a lot of uncertainties around it for a simple reason that we have two new teams coming up,” he said referring to the IPL’s expansion into a 10-team competition from next season.

    “We don’t know the retention policy. We don’t know how many foreigners, Indian players we can retain, the money cap that every player will be cutting from the kitty. So there are a lot of uncertainties.

    “Unless the rules are in place, you can’t really decide that. So we will wait for it to happen and hopefully it will be good for everyone,” he added.

    The comment on the day is bound to create a flutter as earlier this week, while interacting with fans during the 75th year celebrations of ‘India Cements’, Dhoni dropped elaborate hints that he will be seen playing the next season with the CSK.

    “When it comes to farewell, you can still come and see me play for CSK and that can be my farewell game. So, you will still get that opportunity to bid me farewell. Hopefully, we will come to see Chennai and play my last game over there and we can meet fans there,” Dhoni had said.

    If team sources are to be believed then CSK are keen to retain three players — Dhoni, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and prolific opener Ruturaj Gaikwad.

    The iconic former India captain has not played in Chennai since 2019 as the 2020 IPL was held in the UAE.

    During the first leg of this year’s edition, CSK played its matches in Mumbai before the league was suspended due to a breach in the bio-bubble.

  • Punjab Kings wins toss, elects to bowl against Chennai Super Kings

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Punjab Kings captain KL Rahul won the toss and elected to bowl against Chennai Super Kings in their IPL match here on Thursday.

    Punjab made one change to their side, bringing in Chris Jordan in place of West Indian batter Nicholas Pooran Chennai Super Kings, who have qualified for the play-offs and are aiming to seal a top two finish, chose to retain the same XI that played in the previous game against Delhi Capitals.

    Teams:

    Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (captain, WK), Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood

    Punjab Kings: K L Rahul (captain, WK), Mayank Agarwal, Aiden Markram, Sarfaraz Khan, M Shahrukh Khan, Moises Henriques, Chris Jordan, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohd Shami, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh

  • I’ll be back stronger, says injured CSK all-rounder Sam Curran

    By ANI

    DUBAI: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Sam Curran has been ruled out of IPL 2021 and the upcoming T20 World Cup due to a lower back injury. But the English player has promised to come back stronger.

    “Unfortunately I have received a gutting news that I will, unfortunately, be missing the remainder of the IPL season and the World Cup. Extremely gutted…absolutely loved my time with Chennai this season,” CSK website quoted Curran as saying.

    “The boys are doing extremely well. It hasn’t really sunk in yet but I’m leaving with the team in a fantastic space. The boys are playing really good cricket. I want to be supporting them from where I am in the next few days. Once it’s all sunk in, I’ll definitely be supporting the team and I’m sure they can go all the way and lift the trophy.

    “Just want to say a massive thank you to all the Chennai Super Kings fans, I’ve absolutely loved all your support in the last two seasons I’ve been playing. It won’t be long until I’m back running, bowling and batting in front of all you guys. I’ll be back stronger, until then stay safe. Cheers guys,” he added.

    Talking about Curran’s injury, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said: “It’s really unfortunate that Curran won’t be available for the rest of the season due to a lower back injury. We wish him a speedy recovery and I’m sure he will emerge stronger from this. BCCI has been informed about the injury.”

    Curran, 23, has played 24 Tests, 11 ODIs and 16 T20Is for England. He was a part of the England Test squad that played India in England prior to the IPL.

    For England, Curran’s brother, Tom, has been drafted into the squad for the T20 World Cup.

    In addition, Surrey’s Reece Topley has been added as a travelling reserve. Topley will join the England party in due course. The England players and management not part of the IPL arrived at their Muscat base on Tuesday and will remain in Oman until October 16 before moving to Dubai for the start of the tournament.

  • At first, I was pissed: Shimron Hetmyer on Ashwin coming ahead of him to bat against CSK

    By ANI

    DUBAI: Delhi Capitals batter Shimron Hetmyer has revealed he was upset when the team management decided to send Ravichandran Ashwin ahead of him to bat in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 encounter against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

    Hetmyer played an unbeaten knock of 28 off just 18 balls to help Delhi Capitals defeat CSK by three wickets with two balls to spare. With this win, Rishabh Pant-led outfit moved to the top of the points table with 20 points from 13 games.

    “I am enjoying playing the role of being a finisher, to be honest. I am trying to be more open to different challenges. Playing for the West Indies, is about batting in the top-four, here it is a different challenge for me and it has been really fun,” Hetmyer told teammate Ashwin in a video posted on iplt20.com.

    “At first, I was pissed and then it was like for the team. Whatever the team requires, we will do that. At first, I thought you are going to take Moeen Ali out, to be honest, I know you are very well known for slog-sweeping. I was surprised to see you nudging it around,” he added.

    In the final over of the innings, the second delivery bowled by Dwayne Bravo landed miles outside off and it did not even hit the pitch. The on-field umpire had ruled it as a wide and everyone was shocked to see the delivery not being termed as a no-ball.

    “I honestly thought that was a no-ball. The umpire said that it was not a no-ball because it passed the second line, something like that. I guess I have to google about it,” said Hetmyer.

    Earlier, Ambati Rayudu played an unbeaten knock of 55 runs off 43 balls as CSK posted a total of 136/5 in the allotted twenty overs. For Delhi Capitals, Axar Patel returned with figures of 2-18.

    Delhi Capitals will next square off against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Friday at the Dubai International Stadium.

  • MS Dhoni was not the only batter who struggled, difficult wicket for strokeplay: CSK coach Stephen Fleming

    By ANI

    DUBAI: After suffering a three-wicket loss against Delhi Capitals in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach Stephen Fleming came in defence of skipper MS Dhoni, saying he was not the only batter to struggle on the Dubai wicket.

    Shimron Hetmyer played an unbeaten knock of 28 runs off just 18 balls to help Delhi Capitals defeat CSK by three wickets with two balls to spare. With this win, Rishabh Pant-led outfit moved to the top of the points table with 20 points from 13 games.

    “Dhoni was not the only one, it was a difficult day for strokeplay. 137 was almost enough, it was a tough wicket to score big on in terms of big shots, both teams struggled with it towards the end of the innings. Sometimes, you set your sights too high, probably we were just 10-15 runs short of having a match-winning score,” said Fleming during a virtual post-match press conference.

    “That is the difficulty at the moment, trying to assess what the conditions are at three different grounds, there was no lack of intent. We had to stabilise after a couple of mistakes. Delhi bowled well in the last five overs, they were really smart,” he added.

    Earlier, Ambati Rayudu played an unbeaten knock of 55 runs off 43 balls as CSK posted a total of 136/5 in the allotted twenty overs. For Delhi Capitals, Axar Patel returned with figures of 2-18.

    “Yeah, I rather have two defeats now than have two semi-finals, if I have a wish list. There were a lot of mistakes from both sides. Sometimes, when you have qualified, things do change. We are trying to maintain the intensity, there were clumsy mistakes from us which was the most disappointing aspect. But in terms of the competition, one of the most important things is rebounding. We need to just to get our intensity back as before,” said Fleming.

    “The pitch if you watched it, it was very difficult. There was inconsistency, Bravo is not someone who bangs the ball in, his changes in pace and yorkers are his key weapons. I thought tactics were sport on. We did it really well,” he added.

    CSK will next lock horns against Punjab Kings on Thursday at the Dubai International Stadium.

  • Delhi Capitals opt to bowl against CSK

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant won the toss and elected to bowl against Chennai Super Kings in their Indian Premier League match here on Monday.

    Delhi handed maiden IPL cap to Gujarat’s Ripal Patel at the expense of Steve Smith.

    CSK made three changes, bringing in Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar and Robin Uthappa in place of Sam Curran, KM Asif and Suresh Raina.

    The Teams: Chennai Super Kings: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood.

    Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Ripal Patel, Shreyas Iyer, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Avesh Khan.

  • Disciplined DC bowlers restrict CSK to 136/5

    By PTI

    DUBAI: A disciplined performance by Delhi Capitals bowlers restricted Chennai Super Kings to 136 for five despite a 43-ball 55 not out from the seasoned Ambati Rayudu in their Indian Premier League match here on Monday.

    Rayudu reached his fifty when he slashed Anrich Nortje over point for a boundary, following a six over deep extra over in the innings’ 19th over, from which CSK scored 14 runs.

    However, Avesh Khan bowled a fantastic final over in which he conceded only four runs while taking the wicket of Mahendra Singh Dhoni (18).

    Rayudu smashed five fours and two sixes during his stay in the middle.

    A major part of DC’s bowling effort was a far cry from pacer Nortje’s horrendous first over when he conceded 16 runs, with nine off them coming off a leg bye and a bye that Rishabh Pant couldn’t get his hand to despite a diving attempt.

    In between, Ruturaj Gaikwad was given out lbw, but the decision was overturned after the batsman reviewed as TV replays showed the ball was missing the leg stump.

    Faf du Plessis got two boundaries on either side of the wicket against Avesh Khan as CSK raced to 26 in only two overs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

    There was swing on offer but DC’s bowlers were not able to get their act right until left-arm spinner Axar Patel struck when du Plessis’ attempted pull shot was held by a diving Shreyas Iyer in the deep mid-wicket region.

    The in-form Gaikwad welcomed Kagiso Rabada with a drive straight down the ground, even as Robin Uthappa, playing this game in place of Suresh Raina, walked into the middle.

    Nortje removed Gaikwad in the fifth over when the batsman failed to connect his pull shot for Ravichandran Ashwin to complete a neat catch.

    From scoring over 25 runs in the first two overs, CSK found themselves ploughing along at 48 for two at the end of the six power play overs.

    CSK were 69 for four in 10 overs but their bigger concern at that of time was that they lost two more wickets — Moeen Ali to the impressive Axar and Uthappa to Ashwin’s carrom ball.

  • In battle for top-two, DC prevail over CSK by 3 wickets

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Shimron Hetmyer kept his nerves and played some fine shots under pressure to guide Delhi Capitals to a three-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in a battle for top-two finish in the Indian Premier League here on Monday.

    Needing 28 from the last three overs to reach the target of 137, the Guyanese picked 12 runs against Dwayne Bravo and then got 10 off pacer Josh Hazlewood to bring down the equation to six runs from six balls.

    DC completed the job with two balls to spare despite losing Axar Patel.

    Hetmyer remained not out on a vital 28 off 18 balls, including a crucial six in the penultimate over.

    A disciplined performance by Delhi Capitals bowlers restricted Chennai Super Kings to 136 for five despite a 43-ball 55 not out from the seasoned Ambati Rayudu.

    The flashy Prithvi Shaw smashed three boundaries in seven balls to get the DC innings going but, while trying to go for one too many, the Mumbaikar threw his wicket away when he failed to negotiate Deepak Chahar’s extra bounce and Faf du Plessis ran backwards from mid-off to complete the catch.

    Josh Hazlewood bowled a tight fourth over, conceding just three runs, but Shikhar Dhawan (39 off 35 balls) clobbered Chahar for two sixes and as many fours to get 21 in the fifth over.

    However, Hazlewood cut short Shreyas Iyer’s (2) brief stay in the middle when he could not execute a pull shot.

    Ravindra Jadeja sent back Rishabh Pant (15) when the DC skipper tried to sweep a quicker delivery from the left-arm spinner.

    Debutant Ripal Patel hit two fours as DC required 53 from 54 balls, but Jadeja came back to get the better of the new man from Gujarat.

    R Ashwin too followed suit and when Dhawan, three balls after getting a decision against him overturned through a review, played Shardul Thakur to cover in a soft dismissal, DC were in trouble at 99 for six at the end of the 15th over.

    Thakur returned excellent figures of 2/13 in four overs, while Jadeja had 2/28.

    Substitute fielder K Gowtham dropped Shimron Hetmyer at a crucial stage of the game, the ball instead going past the ropes.

    Earlier, Rayudu reached his fifty when he slashed Anrich Nortje over point for a boundary, following a six over deep extra over in the innings’ 19th over, from which CSK scored 14 runs.

    However, Avesh Khan bowled a fantastic final over in which he conceded only four runs while taking the wicket of Mahendra Singh Dhoni (18).

    Rayudu smashed five fours and two sixes during his stay in the middle.

    A major part of DC’s bowling effort was a far cry from pacer Nortje’s horrendous first over when he conceded 16 runs, with nine off them coming off a leg bye and a bye that Rishabh Pant couldn’t get his hand to despite a diving attempt.

    In between, Ruturaj Gaikwad was given out lbw, but the decision was overturned after the batsman reviewed as TV replays showed the ball was missing the leg stump.

    Faf du Plessis got two boundaries on either side of the wicket against Avesh Khan as CSK raced to 26 in only two overs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

    There was swing on offer but DC’s bowlers were not able to get their act right until left-arm spinner Axar Patel (2/18) struck when du Plessis’ attempted pull shot was held by a diving Shreyas Iyer in the deep mid-wicket region.

    The in-form Gaikwad welcomed Kagiso Rabada with a drive straight down the ground, even as Robin Uthappa, playing this game in place of Suresh Raina, walked into the middle.

    Nortje removed Gaikwad in the fifth over when the batsman failed to connect his pull shot for Ravichandran Ashwin to complete a neat catch.

  • Has been wonderful to watch Ruturaj Gaikwad bat: Delhi Capitals spinner Ravichandran Ashwin

    By ANI

    DUBAI: Delhi Capitals spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has praised Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad for showing remarkable consistency in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    Delhi Capitals and CSK will be locking horns on Monday in the top of the table clash at the Dubai International Stadium.

    “Look, I think CSK have got a couple of batters who look at like golden form. I do not know what to say. The way Ruturaj Gaikwad has been batting, has been absolutely wonderful to watch. It is going to be a challenge,” Ashwin said in a video posted on the official Twitter handle of DC.

    “CSK bat deep, bat aggressively. They batted aggressively against us at the Wankhede as well. It will be at the Dubai stadium, the pitch has been good there, I am looking at the batting dish out game,” he added.

    Gaikwad had scored his maiden IPL ton against Rajasthan Royals and he remained unbeaten in the last game. Delhi Capitals had won its last game against Mumbai Indians while CSK suffered a loss against Rajasthan Royals.

    CSK and Delhi Capitals are currently at the top two spots in the IPL points table.