This time Mahendra Singh Dhoni could not finish it off. It would be unfair to expect him to do so as the equation was too tough for any finisher to pull off even in his prime. Ambati Rayudu’s game-changing 78-run knock went in vain as CSK lost the match by 11 runs to Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Wankhede, Mumbai.
Early wickets
CSK’s run chase barely got on track in the powerplay overs with Robin Uthappa getting out after scoring just a single off seven deliveries and Mitchell Santner contributing with a 15-ball 9. Sandeep Singh and Arshdeep Singh were exceptional with the new ball getting the crucial wickets. CSK had 32/2 on the board after six overs.
Ruturaj Gaikwad did not get out early but failed to catch up with the required run rate. Shivam Dube too failed to put on a show and got out in the seventh over to Rishi Dhawan, who made his Indian Premier League (IPL) comeback after five seasons.
Gaikwad departs
In the eighth over, Rayudu walked out to bat with intent. He took on Rishi in the ninth over and hit him for a four and six. At halfway stage, CSK were 69/3 with required run rate rising at an alarming rate. Rayudu tried to get the run chase back on track by taking on Liam Livingstone but Arshdeep came back into the attack and bowled a good over. Mayank Agarwal then took the gamble of bowling Kagiso Rabada’s third over and it worked. Gaikwad got out in the 13th over with a 27-ball 30.
Rayudu keeps chase alive
Skipper Ravindra Jadeja walked out to bat but struggled badly with wild slogs finding nothing but air. Rayudu single-handedly carried the run chase on his back. He played Rahul Chahar out of the attack and smashed Sandeep all over the park. In the 16th over, he hit Sandeep for three consecutive sixes and a four. Sandeep gave just four runs in his first two overs and then conceded 36 runs in his second spell.
Arshdeep was exceptional as he followed Sandeep’s over with an economical one. Rabada bowled the 18th over and dented CSK's hopes with the wicket of Rayudu. The veteran CSK batter got out for 78 off 39 deliveries. He hit seven fours and six sixes in his innings. The South African speedster got the big wicket and conceded just six runs in his last over. Arshdeep bowled a fantastic penultimate over of the innings making the equation 27 off last six deliveries.
No Dhoni special
The last over was given to Rishi with Dhoni on strike. The veteran finisher started off with a six. The maximum dented Rishi's confidence as he followed it up with a wide. He bowled one in block hole to make up for it. After the dot ball, Dhoni went for a big heave but could not get it in the middle of the bat. Jonny Bairstow caught him in the deep ending CSK's chances of winning the match. In the last three deliveries, Jadeja hit a six but it was just a consolation hit for the skipper as CSK managed 176/6.
Out of touch Agarwal
In the powerplay overs, Punjab Kings (PBKS) got off to a shaky start. They did not get many boundaries and in the sixth over skipper Agarwal fell to spinner Maheesh Theekshana. The opener scored 18 runs from 21 deliveries.
Dhawan-Rajapaksa partnership
After a few disappointing scores, Dhawan took his time and anchored the innings with Bhanuka Rajapaksa. Back in the side, Rajapaksa played well in the middle overs. The two left-handed batters dominated CSK bowlers and set a platform. Dhawan got to his 46th IPL half-century in the 14th over from 37 deliveries.
Rajapaksa fell first after sharing a 110-run partnership for the second wicket. Rajapaksa scored 42 runs from 32 deliveries which included two fours and as many sixes.
Ideal finish
Joining Dhawan in the middle in 18th over, Liam Livingstone broke free straightaway. He hammered Dwaine Pretorius for two fours and two sixes in the penultimate over. In the last over, he got out to Dwayne Bravo.
Dhawan hit a six off Bravo but could not reach his century. He remained unbeaten for 59-ball 88 which was studded with nine fours and two sixes. In the last over, Jonny Bairstow too contributed with a boundary and got out trying to steal an extra run off last delivery of the innings which helped PBKS post 187/4.
Milestones for Dhawan
Meanwhile, Dhawan achieved a few milestones. He became the second batter to score 6,000 IPL runs after Virat Kohli. The 36-year-old is now the only batter to score 1,000 or more runs against CSK. Also, he crossed the 9,000-run mark in T20 cricket (IPL, domestic T20s and T20Is).
