In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 qualifier clash between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the tree sign confused viewers. Every time a bowler bowled a dot ball, a tree sign appeared under the bowler’s name on the scorecard. The reason behind the tree sign is the green initiative between Tata group and IPL. For every dot ball, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will plant 500 threes in India.
People took to Twitter as they asked what the three sign meant. Here are few reactions from fans -
A total of 17 dot balls were bowled in the powerplay overs after CSK were asked to bat first by Hardik Pandya. This means a total of 8,500 trees will be planted for the amount of dot deliveries CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway faced in the powerplay overs itself.
Earlier, put in to bat by GT captain Hardik Pandya, the Super Kings batters had a tough time on a slow pitch as they were not able to force the pace.
Talismanic skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni lasted only two balls for his one run, much to the disappointment of an adoring Chepauk crowd.
For the home team, Ruturaj Gaikwad was the best batter, scoring a superb 60 off 44 while the others could not make a substantial contribution.
Pacer Mohammed Shami (2 for 28 in 4 overs) was the best bowler while Mohit Sharma (2/31) also picked up two wickets. Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed scalped a wicket each and put pressure on the batters in the middle overs.
Gaikwad had a stroke of luck when he was caught by Shubman Gill off Darshan Nalkande only for the delivery to be declared a no-ball. He capitalised on the let-off and played some superb shots. The very next ball after he got a reprieve, he smacked a six and hit a four from the next delivery.
The in-form Gaikwad did not get bogged down against the spin of Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed, the key bowlers for GT. He scored freely against all the bowlers and got CSK off to a brisk start with 49 being scored in the powerplay.
Gaikwad appeared to slow down after having outscored his opening partner Devon Conway with whom he shared yet another half-century stand. He fell trying to force the pace, to a catch by David Miller off Mohit Sharma. Ajinkya Rahane (17 off 10), who came in at No.4, hit one six before being Nalkande's only scalp as the scoring slowed down.
Conway was not his usual fluent self and struggled with his timing all though his innings.
Ambati Rayudu (17 off 9) crossed the 6,000 IPL-run mark during the course of his cameo.
The home team did well to collect 35 runs off the last three overs.
(With PTI inputs)
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