IPL 2018: Yuzvendra Chahal's drop proves costly and other takeaways as Chennai Super Kings coast to victory

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Dhoni's men will bat first at Jaipur. Image - IPL/Twitter.

    Chennai Super Kings dealt a huge blow to Royal Challengers Bangalore‘s playoff hopes in the IPL after beating them by six wickets in Pune on Saturday.

    MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bowl first on a slow track. His spinners did the job as Virat Kohli’s men were restricted to 127-9 in their 20 overs. In the end, the hosts chased down the total with ease after overcoming some middle-order hiccups to climb to the top of the league table.

    Here, we look at the key talking points from the clash at Pune.

    JADEJA’S GOLDEN ARM

    CSK all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s place in the side has been called into question after his shoddy performances so far. Even coach Stephen Fleming pointed out Jadeja’s failure to accelerate in the loss to Kolkata Knight Riders. The India all-rounder took criticism on the chin as he turned in a sensational display with the ball on Saturday.

    With his very first delivery, Jadeja dismissed Virat Kohli with an arm-ball which the RCB skipper could only chop on to his stumps. The look of bewilderment was clear to see on Kohli’s face.

    Jadeja wasn’t just done there though as he had Mandeep Singh caught in the deep before completing an excellent return catch to dismiss the half-centurion Parthiv Patel. The left-arm spinner finished with exceptional figures of 3-18 off his four overs.

    DHONI’S LIGHTNING-QUICK HANDS

    MS Dhoni’s quick hands have seen accounted for many opponents, for both India and CSK. The veteran’s wicket-keeping skills were on display once again on Saturday.

    AB de Villiers and Murugan Ashwin who were on the receiving end of two excellent stumpings by Dhoni. The South African completely missed an attempted reverse sweep off Harbhajan Singh as Dhoni rode the bounce and dislodged off the bails in a flash. De Villiers did not even wait for the third umpire’s decision as he walked back the dugout.

    Then, M Ashwin missed a straighter one from the same bowler and once again, Dhoni whipped off the bails with the batsman’s foot stuck on the line.

    PARTHIV PATEL’S FIFTY

    Parthiv Patel is known to score quick runs at the top in the IPL. Hence, it was surprising that it took Virat Kohli so long to give the wicket-keeper batsman his first outing this season.

    Coming in for Manan Vohra, Parthiv was the only shining light in RCB’s poor batting display. The left-hander started in brisk fashion, using the cut and pull shots to good effect.

    While he kept losing partners regularly with Brendon McCullum, Kohli and De Villiers all departing early, Parthiv kept his cool as he raced away to a fine half-century with the help of five boundaries and two sixes.

    His knock of 53 (41) was brought to an end by Jadeja but Parthiv can hold his head high after a string of failures from RCB’s big guns.

    CHAHAL’S DROP COSTS RCB THE GAME

    Despite having to defend a paltry total, Royal Challengers’ bowlers had done well to make it a contest. The match was evenly poised in the 14th over with the hosts at 85-4 with Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo having just arrived at the crease.

    Another wicket at that stage would have made it extremely difficult for the Super Kings. The visitors were given the perfect opportunity when Bravo lofted Ashwin with an inside-out cover drive.

    It should have been a straightforward catch for Yuzvendra Chahal at deep cover but the RCB leg-spinner dropped a sitter. That was the reprieve Bravo and CSK needed as they didn’t give the visitors another sniff. The two veterans saw the hosts home with two overs to spare. Dhoni finished on 31 not out from 23 balls while Bravo ended up with a 17-ball 14.

     

    Recommended