IPL 2018, CSK vs SRH: 4 Unnoticed things from the game

In a game between the table toppers, Sunrisers Hyderabad were being hosted by Chennai Super Kings at Pune. It was a game that gave an opportunity for the visitors to try their bench strength after their win in the previous game that assured them a playoff spot.

On a slow pitch at Pune, Chennai opted to bowl. Sunrisers got off to a sluggish start but the partnership of Dhawan and Williamson powered them to a respectable total. It was also the late flourish from Deepak Hooda that propelled his side to 179 in their 20 overs.

However, SRH didn’t put up a great performance with the ball as they were hammered all around the park to hand them their second defeat against CSK this season by 8 wickets.

Let’s look at some of the things that went unnoticed:

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#1 Deepak Chahar delivers on his return

The men in yellow have fared well in this season on their return after two years. Though the batting prowess of Chennai has impressed, their bowling has let them down. They suffered a major blow when Deepak Chahar was ruled out for a couple of weeks in the mid-season.

However, Chahar returned after his hamstring injury in the game against Hyderabad. Deepak was splendid on his return as he produced yet another brilliant spell against the Orange Army. In his 4 overs, he gave just 16 runs to get the prized wicket of Alex Hales. This indeed solved the conundrum for MS Dhoni, but the problems in the death continued to expand for them.

#2 Chennai bowled seven bowlers against Hyderabad

After the successful run-chase for the Sunrisers in their last match against Delhi, it was necessary for Chennai to restrict the opposition at a decent target. MS Dhoni was much aware of the fact as he looked to rotate his bowlers at a regular interval. It was a surface that didn’t offer much purchase for the spinners as none of the slow bowlers completed their full quota.

Even the standout performer from the last game at Pune, Ravindra Jadeja didn’t have a lot to offer to his team in today’s game. The duo of Harbhajan and Jadeja were expensive as they conceded runs in excess of 12 runs an over. The overs for the slower bowlers were compensated by their all-rounder Shane Watson.

#3 Sunrisers concede their highest opening stand in this IPL

One of the most consistent attacks in this year’s VIVO IPL, Hyderabad bowlers looked off track for the very first time in this season. The likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan and Sandeep Sharma didn’t look much impressive with the ball in the first half of the second innings.

They missed their mark on quite a few occasions and saw themselves on the receiving end of some explosive batting. As a result, Sunrisers conceded highest opening stand as the duo of Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu went about their business with ease. Watson was the aggressor as he started in style while Rayudu gradually progressed with his innings. They mustered 134 runs for the first wicket in just 13.3 overs.

#4 CSK record their highest opening stand this season

Chasing 180 against a quality Sunrisers attack, it was necessary for CSK to attack at the beginning of the innings. The openers were banged on as they smashed opposition bowlers for fun. It was some batting skills on display as the Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu continued their good run of play in this IPL season.

This was also the highest opening stand for Chennai Super Kings as they bettered their previous best of 102 against Delhi at the same ground. However, this came against a quality Hyderabad bowling attack, as it justified the batting prowess of the men in blue this season.