Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clinched a stunning win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their IPL 2024 clash to avenge their Chepauk loss. Ruturaj Gaikwad-led CSK faced off against Sam Curran's PBKS in a crucial away game at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. CSK struggled with the bat after put to bat first. However, Ravindra Jadeja (43) came to CSK's rescue and helped CSK post a respectable total of 167/9. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Daryl Mitchell contributed runs in the 30s, but the rest of the lineup failed to capitalise. However, the story changed dramatically during the second innings. Ravindra Jadeja, showcasing his all-rounder skills, took center stage with the ball. His bowling masterclass resulted in 3 wickets for just 20 runs. Supported by Simarjeet Singh and Tushar Deshpande, who each took two wickets, CSK restricted the Punjab Kings to a meager 139 for 9. Shardul Thakur and Mitchell Santner chipped in with a wicket apiece, ensuring CSK's victory by a comfortable margin of 28 runs. This win brings them closer to securing a coveted playoff spot in the IPL 2024.
Ruturaj Gaikwad reacts after CSK's win over PBKS
Taking the stage at the post-match presentation, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad acknowledged the slow nature of the pitch, expressing satisfaction with the team's total.
“Everyone believed the wicket was slow. Even low bounce. Just that the start we got, we were thinking of pushing till 180-200. After losing wickets, thought 160-170 was a good score,” Ruturaj said following CSK's convincing win.
Praising Simarjeet Singh's impact, Ruturaj Gaikwad, the CSK captain, acknowledged that the pacer hadn't received many opportunities in the past. However, Gaikwad emphasized that Simarjeet's performance proved it's never too late to shine.
"Don't know what he's doing, but even in preseason, he was clicking 150kph (on Simarjeet). He didn't get too much chances, but it's never too late. Were thinking of going with impact batter, but then we thought the batter will give 10-15 runs, but he could give 2-3 wickets," he added.
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CSK battled flu to beat PBKS
Capping off his post-match comments, Gaikwad beamed with delight, expressing his elation over the hard-fought victory. He also revealed how CSK defied odds to script their comeback and end their five-match losing streak against PBKS. He said that some of his teammates were flu-ridden and he till morning he wasn't sure who to pick in CSK's playing XI.
"Some of the guys were struggling with flu. Weren't even sure till the morning who's playing or not. To get the win, really happy with that," Gaikwad concluded.
Despite their overall winning record against the Punjab Kings (CSK lead 16-14), the Kings have surprisingly struggled against them in recent encounters. Heading into their second IPL 2024 clash, this weakness was particularly evident. Prior to this match, PBKS dominated CSK in the last five meetings, winning them all. This feat has only been achieved by one other team in IPL history – the Mumbai Indians.
Punjab began their dominance in October 2021, securing a convincing 6-wicket victory with 42 balls to spare. This winning streak continued in IPL 2022 with two victories by margins of 54 and 11 runs respectively. In IPL 2023, their lone encounter resulted in another win for Punjab Kings, this time by 4 wickets. However, the tide turned in the most recent IPL 2024 match. CSK managed to break the losing streak and reclaim their lead in the head-to-head record.
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