IPL 6: CSK vs RR - Flops of the Match

The Rajasthan Royals made it two losses in two on their south India tour, following up their comprehensive loss to the RCB with a close defeat at the hands of CSK. It was a poor day for bowlers overall, with 371 runs being plundered in 39.5 overs, although the fans complained very little, either about the entertainment or about the final result. There were quite a few shining lights in the game, but here are those whose performances were quite the opposite.

Dishant Yagnik – Fading away

Key stats: Batting figures - 7 off 8 (1 four);

In his third consecutive game for the Royals, the young keeper failed to get going with the bat yet again, falling to Ashwin for a paltry sum. Of course, it did bring Stuart Binny to the pitch, who played a great innings, but it was the second consecutive personal failure for Yagnik, for whom the innings against Mumbai must seem distant now. Sweeping against the spin on a pitch with a fair amount of bounce against one of the best bowlers of the tournament is never a wise decision to take, and Yagnik tonight showed us why.

Kevon Cooper – Freebies galore

Key stats: Bowling figures - 4.0 – 0 – 49 – 0

For someone who is deeply embroiled in the race for the Purple Cap this season, Kevon Cooper bowled four harmless overs which were plundered for plenty by the Chennai batsmen. On a pitch which seemed to be aiding the slower bowlers, Cooper consistently bowled quick and wide, allowing the home side to rack up the runs rapidly, even off edges and half-chances. A real let-down for the captain on the night.

Rahul Dravid – Flat as a leaf

Key stats: Batting figures – 6 off 9 (0 boundaries); Run outs effected - 1

It is not often that you will see the real Mr. Cricket on this list, but tonight was one of those nights for him. Failing to deliver with the bat, Dravid still went in happy at the break thanks to some splendid batting from his wards. Post the break though, little went right for him, with his bowlers letting him down left, right, and centre. While he did effect the run-out of Hussey, it was an increasingly frustrated figure that he cut with the poor decisions from the bowlers he picked. Guilty of not trying to bowl Hodge on that pitch, and of those unnecessary runs conceded off misfields in the penultimate over which, given the fine margins in the game, may have affected the result.

Ravindra Jadeja - Not to-knight!

Key stats: Batting figures – 0 off 2 (0 boundaries); Bowling figures - 3.0 – 0 – 45 – 0

Coming in to bat with Faulkner delivering on the dot is never an easy task. One would perhaps have expected more of the satirically knighted Jadeja though, than a late block on a yorker which left his leg-stump uprooted, and made for a tenser finish than should have been. A duck from the $2 million man meant that Dwayne Bravo was left with some work to do in the final over, and his concession of 45 runs in three overs earned few fantasy league points for those with the in-form man in their team’s ranks.