IPL 2024: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings, 18th Match - Who Said What?
SRH won the match by six wickets, and Abhishek Sharma won Player of the Match.
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Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) won yet another match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. Taking on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in match no. 18 of the Indian Premier League 2024, Pat Cummins' men went all guns blazing against the defending champions on Friday, April 05. In the second game of the season at the venue, captain Cummins had the toss in his favour and asked CSK to bat first.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (26 off 21) and Rachin Ravindra (12 off 9) came to open, and had a watchful start. After the openers' dismissal, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane (35 off 30) anchored the innings, while Shivam Dube (45 off 24), at 4, smashed boundaries for fun. Late blows by Ravindra Jadeja propelled CSK to 165/5, as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins, Jaydev Unadkat, and T. Natarajan shared the wickets equally.
Also Read: SRH vs CSK: Pat Cummins withdraws appeal for 'obstructing the field' against Ravindra Jadeja
Although the onus was on CSK bowlers to stem the flow of runs, Mukesh Choudhary leaked 27 runs in one over, where Abhishek Sharma took him to the cleaners. Sharma's opening partner Travis Head had a little contribution in the duo's 46-run partnership, but ensured to maximize field restrictions, while the hosts scored 78/1 in the Powerplay.
Talking Points
1. 'RRR' trio is good, but is it the best?
Ruturaj, Rachin, and Rahane, the famous top-order trio of Chennai, had decent starts to their names. The senior most of the lot, had the highest contribution from the top-order, but scoring at a brisk rate, which was missing from the ace batter. Ruturaj too, couldn't capitalize on the start, falling prey to Shahbaz. The Kiwi batter, who also failed to get going, was undone by Bhuvi.
2. Thala Dharisanam leaves Uppal fans discontented
As the fate would have it, all the stars aligned for a Thala Dharisanam in Uppal, and dramatically enough, when three balls were left in the innings. However, on-spot death bowling by Natarajan ensured that there was nothing for fans to cheer about apart from MS Dhoni's arrival at the crease, as he allowed the 42-year-old to steal just a run in the two balls bowled.
3. Abhishek Sharma sets the tone for Hyderabad
Sharma had his merry season going in his favour yet again, as the Punjab-born came prepared from the word 'go'. The left-handed batter came in like a thunder, and went like lightning in his 12-ball stay at the crease (You've heard this before, haven't you?). Courtesy of his blitz 37 runs, SRH had the tone set, as Aiden Markram carried forward the momentum set by their opener. Markram scored a fifty off 36 balls, before getting caught in front of the wickets off Moeen Ali. At the end, Cummins and Co. went over the line with six wickets and 11 balls remaining, moving to fifth on the points table.
Also Check: IPL Points Table 2024 | IPL Standings & Team Rankings
Who Said What?
Losing skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad, said:
"It was a slow pitch. At the back end they bowled well. We couldn't capitalise in the last five overs. We were in a good situation halfway but they bowled well at the back. Black soil pitch, so we expected the slowness. As the ball got older, it got slower. They used the conditions well - big boundary one end. We did not bowl well in the powerplay but did well to drag the game. 170-175 is par, if we would have had a good powerplay with the ball, we could have had the game. There was slight dew at the later stage. Moeen was spinning the ball in the 15th-16th over, so not much of a difference."
Winning skipper, Pat Cummins, said:
"Different soil, slowed up as the game went on. Stil a fantastic game. We have got plenty of fast bowlers. Shivam was hitting the spinners. So we took a chance with the fast bowlers bowling cutters. [Abhishek Sharma] I would not be wanting to be bowling to him. The crowd is crazy tonight, especially when MS walked out. We love playing here, home conditions."
Player of the Match, Abhishek Sharma, said:
"In the bowling, we felt it was a slow wicket. So we wanted to take the powerplay on. We had a chance to prepare well before the IPL. We knew it will be slow, but not if we take on the bowler. Because it would be difficult for the bowler as well. Big scores matter, but I went with the flow today. Hopefully I will get out last next time. It is all the hard work I have put before this. Special thanks to my dad, Yuvi paaji (Yuvraj Singh, mentor) and Brian Lara."
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