IPL 2020: Match 53 – CSK vs KXIP – Who Said What

The 53rd match of the Indian Premier League saw action between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab. In an extremely crucial match for Punjab, they failed to show the required heroics. CSK ender their season on a happy note after defeating Punjab by nine wickets. Being invited to bat first, KXIP struggled while posting 153 on the board. The opening duo of Mayank and KL Rahul added 26 and 29 runs respectively from their end.

Ruturaj Gaikwad was named as the player of the match for leading his team home for the last time in IPL 2020. They kept losing their wickets at regular intervals, but their end innings were handled greatly by Deepak Hooda as he smashed 62* off 30. Ravindra Jadeja was the economical man from Chennai’s bowling unit, and Lungi Ngidi named three wickets under his belt.

While chasing an average target in Abu Dhabi, only three batsmen were required to show up for CSK, and they all poured in their contributions well. The opening duo of Faf du Plessis(48 off 34) and Gaikwad (62* off 49) turned bombastic. The rest of the requirement was filled by Ambati Rayudu, who added good 30* runs from his end. The only wicket lost by CSK came under the belt of Chris Jordan.

Losing skipper, KL Rahul said

It is as simple as that. We didn’t bat really well. Big pressure game and we expected 180-190 on the board, unfortunately we couldn’t soak in the pressure and get a big total. Disappointed but that’s how IPL goes. We didn’t have results going our way in the first half. The team still felt we were playing good cricket. We were patchy at times with the bowling and the batting didn’t come together in the first half, we started doing well in the second half and really proud that we gave ourselves an opportunity to come into the top four.

Unfortunate that today and yesterday’s game didn’t go our way but proud of the team. Hopefully come back stronger next year and forget this year. If you look back at it , we had a lot of games in our pocket but we couldn’t get over the line. We only have ourselves to blame. At the start of the tournament, that short run has come back to bite us very hard. We all make mistakes and we have made a few this season. We need to accept it, learn from it and come back stronger.

Winning skipper, MS Dhoni said

It was a difficult campaign for us. I don’t think we played to the full potential. If you are lagging too much, it becomes very difficult to push yourself and come up with performances. Very proud the way they played their cricket. It would have been very tough 6-7 games. You won’t want to be in a dressing room that is not really enjoying cricket. You want to keep coming up with different ideas but if the dressing room atmosphere is not happy, it becomes very tough. A lot depends on what the BCCI decides upon the auction.

We need to slightly change our core group and look for the next ten years. At the start of the IPL, we made a team and it served well. There comes a time where you have to shift a bit, hand it over to the next generation. We’ll come back strong, that’s what we are known for. This has been a tough year. This is one of the seasons most of the teams played well. He’s (Ruturaj Gaikwad) somebody who has batted well. He got COVID and was out. Even after 20 days, he wasn’t fit. He didn’t get a lot of practice.

Player of the match, Ruturaj Gaikwad said

I was confident coming in [based on the last domestic season]. Even in club games, even for Maharashtra, I’ve to play the anchor and take the team to the end. It did hurt not to be part of the squad that flew at first and miss the first few games, but the management and team was supportive. First one or two games it was surreal to be around some of the big names.

Faf du Plessis said

Sorry Danny I would like to give you a bat but I only get so many bats. That scoop is the shot I play often and quite bummed that I couldn’t get it but pleased for us to finish the season with a win. He (Gaikwad) looks like a young Virat Kohli doesn’t he. What stands out for me the most is is his composure. Pressure situations don’t really get to him. That is always pleasing to see in a young guy and looks like he has a bright future. I am still loving it. I have got a lot of cricket left in me, at least five years.