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✪ Should Mumbai Indians have ended up as the loser to Chennai Super Kings after a dream start?
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Senior cricket writer & analyst
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The result was unexpected despite a good start from Mumbai. Strange are the ways of T20 cricket. Let’s take a look at why it was a special win for Chennai. The maturity of Ruturaj Gaikwad, the hero of the match, Dwayne Bravo who defies age, and Dhoni’s captaincy contributed to the win.
Ruturaj Gaikwad. Photo : Chennai Super Kings Twitter
The first day of the second half of the IPL at the Dubai International stadium was held on September 19, 2021. The common man was happy to refer to the day as 19-20-21, a rare happening. So it was equally rare to see Mumbai lose despite starting off well and taking control. Well, T20 cricket is known for strange happenings!! The result was a 20-runs win for Chennai in this T20 match!
A boy from Pune Chinchwad academy
Only once in the IPL has a team that batted first and slipped to four wickets down for less than 24 gone on to win the game. This shows that even if the top order collapses, one can go on to win the game provided the others in the team have the faith in them to do it. Ruturaj Gaikwad led the fightback with an unbeaten knock of 88. I heard about Gaikwad for the first time a few years ago during a chat with former Indian captain and coach Dilip Vengsarkar. He had mentioned that “there is a boy from my Pune Chinchwad academy called Ruturaj Gaikwad. He is extremely talented and will go a long way.”
A whistle for one of Gaikwad’s sixes
On October 31, 2020, after Gaikwad and Jadeja pulled off a stunning victory over Kolkata Knight Riders, I remember writing that the maturity Gaikwad displayed in that match was much beyond his age (he was 23) and that he is set to become the future star of the team. Many of us would have forgotten that in the last IPL soon after he arrived in UAE he was tested positive for Coronavirus. Recovering from it bravely and quickly, he produced some sterling knocks. His skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who had kept him out of the team before, candidly admitted that he had delayed in taking a look at his skills.
Chennai coach Stephen Flemings’remark on Gaikwad during the late night press conference sums it all. “Today’s innings was very special. It’s okay to play an innings in a high-scoring game and dominate. But when you’re the one to get a score to give your team a chance, then that’s even more special,”
Dwayne Bravo. Photo: Chennai Super Kings Twitter
Humble simple Bravo
There are some players one cannot write off despite their age. One of them is Dwayne Bravo. His contribution was a timely 23 off just eight balls with three sixes and three wickets. His knock, when one looks at the 20 runs margin of victory, proves how crucial it was in the end. Bravo, who will be celebrating his 38th birthday next month on October 7, showed he is a match winner. He had just recovered from a groin injury during the Caribbean Premier League. His humble remark after the match was that playing against Mumbai is like playing them in a final. So he wanted to play in this match and hence ensured that he doesn’t strain much after the groin injury and that he was happy to get four overs to bowl.
Dhoni’s cool show in UAE’s summer
Dhoni has this ability to get his players to contribute. When you have Dhoni as the captain of the opposite side, teams would do well to realise that any target can be tough. It was a treat to once again watch his ‘Cool’ approach. His field placings and bowling changes, keeping the match in control, was a treat to watch. It confirms that he is the right man to be the mentor of the Indian team for the oncoming T20 World Cup.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni Photo Chennai Super Kings Twitter
As a batsman, Dhoni’s abilities may have faded; but captaincy traits can never fade away with age. What I have always admired about his captaincy is that he never expresses any tension or frustration on his face. His focus is only on how to go about to win the match…something that would be good to imbibe from him not only on a cricket field but in life too.
What’s news about Rohit Sharma?
The question in everyone’s mind, especially Mumbai fans, has been whether Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma would be ready for the next match. Mumbai coach Mahela Jayawardene gave the answer to that during the late night press conference. “Rohit was batting and doing his running after coming back from the UK. But we felt he probably needed a few days… so he should be fine to play the next game. Hardik was training, had a niggle, so as a precaution we have given him a few extra days…nothing serious.”
Mahela Jayawardene. Photo: IPL/BCCI
Jaywardene,who reportedly had turned down the offer to become the next Indian team coach, gave an interesting response with regards his team’s defeat. “It was not the easiest wicket, but probably needed some application. I put it down to game awareness and taking responsibility. The application out there is something we need to work on.”
It was also a message to all the teams. Adapt to the UAE conditions, apply yourself and be aware of all that is needed to be a winner here.
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