4 unforgettable batting heroics by Bravo for CSK

Dwayne Bravo has announced his retirement from international cricket. However, to the great relief of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans, he will continue to play franchise cricket and will be available for Chennai Super Kings next year.

Bravo has been a faithful servant of the West Indies cricket team. In the IPL, Bravo brings in the Caribbean swagger and plays with the typical West Indian flair.

Bravo has been an integral part of the CSK team since 2011 when they won the IPL trophy for the second time. Bravo has been known for his cameos with the bat which helped CSK to win many a match from a losing position. While bowling, Bravo has been Dhoni’s go-to man at the death.

Add to that, Bravo’s acrobatics and energy on the field, you will unearth a multi-dimensional cricketer who is perfectly suited for the T20 version of the game. Not to forget his dancing skills to add to the entertainment and pleasure that IPL serves up.

Bravo is an experienced T20 player and he has acted as the mentor for the young bowling talent in the CSK team. Bravo is a very good bowler at the death and is deadly accurate with his yorkers.

Based on his earlier performances for CSK, at the IPL auction held in Bangalore in 2018, Bravo was retained by the side when they exercised the Right to Match card for him, buying him for Rs 6.40 crores.

With the presence of a quality all-rounder like Bravo, CSK is the only team to qualify for the playoffs of all the seasons that they have played. CSK has been in the final for a record seven times and they won the title three times.

After Bravo’s retirement from International cricket, let us re-live some of Bravo’s heroics for CSK during different seasons of IPL.

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#1 CSK vs Deccan Chargers 2012, Visakhapatnam

Bravo - The best all-rounder in T20 cricket

Asked to bat, CSK were in a spot of bother at 120 for 5 in the 15th over when Dhoni got out. Bravo joined the well-set Jadeja and he was slow to start, scoring 4 off 4. But when Jadeja got out for 47 in the 17th over, Bravo took it upon himself to pull CSK out of trouble. Bravo was lucky to be dropped on 7 in the 18th over. In the same over Bravo hit 2 sixes over long off.

The last over was bowled by Manpreet Goni. The first ball was a dot ball. The second ball was a full toss which Bravo deposited over mid-wicket. The next ball was a short ball which Bravo managed to whack it over the long on fence. After scoring a couple of twos, Gony was generous enough to bowl a full toss which disappeared into the crowd.

From 7 off his first 7 balls, Bravo ended up on 43 off 18 balls with 5 sixes. CSK scored 40 off the last 2 overs. Because of Bravo and Jadeja, CSK managed to score 74 runs in the last 5 overs which was exactly their margin of victory in that match.

#2 CSK vs MI Eliminator 2012, Bangalore

Bravo and Pollard - Best of friends off the field

CSK met the Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator of IPL 2012. Mumbai Indians won the toss and put CSK in to bat. CSK lost both Murali Vijay and Suresh Raina for just 1 run on the board. Badrinath and Mike Hussey added 93 for the 3rd wicket before CSK lost both the batsmen along with Jadeja. CSK could reach only 114 for 5 in 15 overs.

Bravo joined Dhoni for the last 5 overs. Dhoni took off by hitting Dhawal Kulkarni for 3 consecutive fours. Bravo started off with a four against Malinga. He followed it up with 2 fours in the 19th over bowled by Malinga.

The last over was bowled by Dhawal Kulkarni. Bravo thumped the third delivery into the stand between mid-wicket and long-on. Kulkarni bowled the next delivery wide of the off-stump and Bravo reached for it and sent the ball sailing over deep extra cover. Bravo finished with 33 off just 14 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. At the other end, Dhoni scored 51 off just 20 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. These two added 73 runs in the last 5 overs and CSK reached 187 in 20 overs.

While bowling, Bravo got rid of James Franklin and the dangerous Kieron Pollard to finish with figures of 2 for 10. Due to Bravo’s all-around efforts, CSK reached the final of IPL 2012

#3 CSK vs MI 2018, Mumbai

Bravo played his best T20 innings against the Mumbai Indians

This was the opening match of IPL 2018. CSK was making a comeback into the IPL after a gap of 2 years.

Chasing a target of 166 for a win, CSK were 84 for 6. Kedar Jadhav had retired hurt and was unlikely to come back. When everything was lost for CSK, Bravo infused life into the game. Bravo started off his innings with a six off new mystery bowler Markande who earlier took the wickets of Rayadu and Dhoni.

With a required run rate of 12 in the last 7 overs, Bravo took on the ever-accurate Mustafizur Rahman, hitting him for 2 fours in one over. Then he turned his attention to McClenaghan and Bumrah. Bumrah, coming back for his second spell, was greeted with a flat six over extra cover.

Mumbai Indians must have thought that Bravo was playing his usual cameos before throwing his wicket away. But that day Bravo stayed put and was determined to take CSK home. CSK needed 51 off the last 4 overs with 3 wickets in hand.

Hardik Pandya bowled the 17th over and gave away 4 runs and got rid of Mark Wood. CSK needed 47 in 18 balls when last man Imran Tahir joined Bravo, who was batting on 29. Now it all boiled down to Bravo. McClenaghan bowled the 18th over.

Bravo hit the second ball over the bowlers head for a six. The next ball was launched into mid-wicket for a six. Bravo pulled the 5th ball of the over to the mid-wicket boundary. He wisely took a single off the last ball and retained the strike.

CSK needed 27 off 12 balls. Bumrah bowled the penultimate over of the innings. Bravo lofted the first ball over long-off for a six and reached his 50 off 25 balls. The next ball was a full toss from Bumrah which sailed into the mid-wicket boundary.

Bravo was lucky with the fourth ball as the ball trickled back on to the stumps but the bails did not come off. Bumrah couldn’t believe his luck. In frustration, Bumrah bowled another full toss which traveled the distance. Now only 7 required off 7. But at this crucial juncture, Bravo threw his wicket away in the last ball of the over and spooned a catch to Rohit Sharma. Bravo left the field after scoring a brilliant 68 off 30 balls with 3 fours and 7 sixes.

Kedar Jadhav was not supposed to come back to the batting crease after his injury. But Bravo’s innings forced him to come back to bat on one leg with 7 needed off the last over. Due to his restricted movements, the first 3 balls were dot balls. But Jadhav played a clever scoop over short fine leg using the pace of the bowler and the ball went all the way for a six. Jadhav belted the next ball for a boundary through the covers and CSK were back with a bang into the IPL with a stunning win.

CSK came back from nowhere and it was Bravo who made that victory possible.

#4 CSK vs KKR 2012, Kolkata

Bravo is Dhoni's, go-to man

CSK needed 5 runs off 2 deliveries and Bravo was on strike against Rajat Bhatia. Bravo tried to heave the fifth ball over mid-wicket and missed the ball completely. 5 needed off 1 delivery. Bhatia bowled a full toss and Bravo latched on to it and smacked it hard over long on for a six. CSK reached home off the very last ball of the match, courtesy D.J. Bravo.

Bravo is a top contributor for Chennai Super Kings over a period of time. It seems Bravo and CSK are made for each other. Bravo is Dhoni’s main weapon in his arsenal and will continue to remain so in IPL 2019.