IPL 2019: Match 12, CSK vs RR - Who Said What

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) continue to dominate the proceedings in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). They are the only team to lose yet after playing three matches this season and this shows how strong as a team they are and look a dominant force to defend their title. It was once again the case of ‘so close yet so far’ for the Rajasthan Royals and this has happened with them for all the last three matches.

First up it was the experienced Thala MS Dhoni and Chinna Thala Suresh Raina bailing the team out of trouble, not for the first time in the IPL. They came together with the team struggling at 27/3 in the fifth over. The duo took their time to get their eyes in and then played calculated strokes to stitch a 61-run stand. Raina scored 36 runs before being castled by Jaydev Unadkat.

Many felt that his wicket went down at the wrong time but Dwayne Bravo played a perfect cameo to give more time to the skipper to get into his elements. Come the last couple of overs, Dhoni was set to get going. He had reached his half-century by then and launched Unadkat for three sixes off the last three balls which eventually turned out to be game-changing. CSK finished on 175 runs after 20 overs.

Royals come close and lose yet again

The Rajasthan Royals were 14/3, much like their opponents, in the chase and one felt they will fall like a pack of cards. But Rahul Tripathi brave effort of 39 off 24 balls kept the team in the hunt. Steve Smith threatened for a while but Imran Tahir proved to be is undoing. Eventually, it was Ben Stokes who hit some lusty blows along with Jofra Archer to bring the equation down to 12 off 6 balls from 56 off four overs.

However, Dwayne Bravo was too good in the last over with his variations and conceded only three runs as CSK clinched the victory by eight runs.

Man of the Match and CSK skipper, MS Dhoni said:

We wanted to get a partnership going – that was needed. We knew there was some dew on the field. We knew it would get easier as the game progresses. We bat quite deep – until 9 (Santner). We could accelerate in the last few overs, and we wanted to get a partnership going at that time. We have a stable XI and there were a lot less left-handers in the opposition, so we gave Mitch Santner a go.

It isn’t that important to make changes if not necessary. As the tournament progresses everyone will get more chances for some reason or the other. The batting needs to continue performing like it has been. As the tournament progresses, bowlers start executing their plans much better.

Initially I thought we would look at how the fast bowlers would bowl and get the early breakthrough so we could bring in the spinners. Jadeja and Santner found it hard to grip the ball and it was difficult to manage them. We were able to rotate, and the legspinner bowled really well. To be a wristspinner and bowl that way with the dew is very impressive.

Irrespective of the results, it is important to cut the boundaries and it is difficult for the fast bowlers to execute. It’s better to keep hitting the same mark. Whether slower was a good option or not, we need to evaluate that. We need to cut the grass thinner but I don’t think this is a controllable factor. The home franchise will always get more support than the opposition.

Rajasthan Royals skipper, Ajinkya Rahane said:

Very disappointed. We started off really well in the first ten overs, but what cost us were the last five overs. When MS bats it is very difficult for the bowlers. It was very hard for the bowlers to grip the ball after six overs, even the fast bowlers.

But CSK bowled really well, they kept taking wickets. As a batting unit we need to take the responsibility for this. We win as a team and we lose as a team. If we win the smaller moments in T20s we will do well. We have played well in the last three games and hopefully with some luck we’ll be able to turn it around.

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