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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Ravindra Jadeja blamed his incompetent batting attack for their poor performance in the 2022 Indian Premier League season (IPL) after suffering their sixth loss of the season against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday. Jadeja believes that his side's inability to score runs in the powerplay overs has been hurting the team.
"We are not getting good starts in the first six overs, that's where we are lacking and hopefully we will come back stronger," Jadeja said after the match.
Chasing 188, CSK had a woeful start as they slumped to 40 for 3 in seven overs. But Ambati Rayudu's 39-ball 78 kept them in the hunt before they could manage 176 for 6 in 20 overs while chasing 188 for the victory.
Sharing his praises for Rayudu, Jadeja said, "He (Rayudu) was batting brilliantly, if we could've restricted them to under 175 it would've been good. We felt we gave away 10-15 runs extra at the end. We did not execute our plans very well."
Three consecutive sixes and a four in the 16th over which was bowled by Sandeep Sharma (1/40) helped Rayudu keep CSK afloat but Arshdeep Singh conceded just six runs in the next over and eight in the 19th to tilt the scales towards Punjab. The young pacer was lauded by his team skipper Mayank Agarwal.
"I thought Arsh bowled exceedingly well, he has bowled the tough overs, he has been great for us. Even Rabada bowled well, to get Ruturaj and get Rayudu at that stage. These two have been great for us," he said.
Rabada, who returned with figures of 2 for 23, also heaped praise on his pace colleague. "Arsh (Arshdeep) has been the best death bowler in the competition, that's what the stats say. He has got a lot of talent, drive and ambition. And he is just a good bloke. So nice to have him around. I know I am going to bowl at the death," said the South African bowler.
"Arsh has been magnificent. He has been leading the way in that discipline," he added.
Shikhar Dhawan, who was adjudged the Player of the Match after his unbeaten 88, said the focus was on keeping wickets at the top as he was not able to connect the shots initially. "The wicket was stopping a bit, I tried to go for the big shots, but I couldn't connect. But I kept my calm. Once I get set, I can get those boundaries, that's what I bank on," he said.
