IPL 2020: Irfan Pathan backs CSK to make the playoffs from being the cellar dwellers

The Super Kings are staring at elimination, losing seven out of 10 matches.

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MS Dhoni
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MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan reckons that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have the potential to make the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs despite languishing at the bottom of the points table. On Monday, October 19, the team, captained by MS Dhoni, lost to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

After the Yellow Army posted 125 on the board, it was pretty much one-way traffic in the Royals’ direction. Winning three out of their first 10 games, the Super Kings are the cellar dwellers and are staring at elimination. However, Irfan said that Dhoni’s men have the ingredients to make a comeback, bearing in mind their experience of soaking pressure over the years.

CSK know how to run cricket for 21-22 years, says Pathan

“If anyone can bounce back – from the seventh or eighth position, this is the team, CSK. CSK know very well how to handle the players, they make the players very comfortable. I was part of that squad in 2015. It’s all about the players,” Pathan was quoted as saying on Star Sports.

“This franchise know how to run cricket for 21-22 years. In the Chennai league as well, they run the team the same way. It’s all about players. You go out and perform, we will back you up,” he stated.

If CSK don’t make the playoffs, it will be the first time that the team won’t be making the next round after 10 seasons. Even before the tournament got underway, CSK were jolted with blows after Suresh Raina, their leading run-scorer, and Harbhajan Singh pulled out. But Pathan feels that Dhoni’s leadership skills can turn the Super Kings’ campaign around going forward.

“We know CSK have been good over the years, this year they’ve had problems with Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina not being there, quite a few injuries as well. But still, we hope, just because they have a good captain Dhoni, who’s had so much success in IPL cricket, that he will take the team forward even with the kind of situation they are in at the moment,” Irfan added.

CSK are next scheduled to face Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians (MI) on Friday, October 23 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

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