Virender Sharma (India), Pashchim Pathak (India), Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand, TV)
The pitch will be hard to start with and the team batting first will not find run-scoring too difficult. But since there won't be much humidity in the air, bowlers wouldn't mind bowling under lights as well. Since net run-rates are at stake, captain - especially KL Rahul - winning the toss should opt to field and restrict the opposition to something around 160 runs.
It would be a hot day with temperatures hovering between 29 and 28 degree celsius. We are in for full 40 overs.
It is a must-win game for the Kings XI Punjab, even more so, they will have to win by a huge margin to improve their net run-rate since there is a possibility of the third and fourth-placed teams finishing on the same points tally. On the other hand, the Chennai Super Kings can very well be the party poopers, just like how they were against RCB on October 25 and KKR on October 29. However, for the result to go in favour of the KL Rahul-led side, they have to not only start well but also rack up as much runs as possible in the middle overs. This is because whichever set of spinners CSK choose in their starting eleven today, they will naturally turn the ball into Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran. Thus, MS Dhoni would be aware that their margin for error is very small in terms of bowling and that the other batsmen need to step up and complement the in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad in putting a decent total on the board.
So, that is it from me, Karthik Raj and co-commentator, Gaurav Kadam. Stay tuned to Sportskeeda's coverage of the remainder of the IPL
MS Dhoni: It was a difficult campaign for us. I don't think we played to the full potential. If you are lagging too much, it becomes very difficult to push yourself and come up with performances. Very proud the way they played their cricket. It would have been very tough 6-7 games. You won't want to be in a dressing room that is not really enjoying cricket. You want to keep coming up with different ideas but if the dressing room atmosphere is not happy, it becomes very tough. A lot depends on what the BCCI decides upon the auction. We need to slightly change our core group and look for the next ten years. At the start of the IPL, we made a team and it served well. There comes a time where you have to shift a bit, hand it over to the next generation. We'll come back strong, that's what we are known for. This has been a tough year. This is one of the seasons most of the teams played well. He's (Ruturaj Gaikwad) somebody who has batted well. He got COVID and was out. Even after 20 days, he wasn't fit. He didn't get a lot of practice.
Ruturaj Gaikwad: I was scoring well in the domestic arena in every format, so I was feeling confident. Even for my club and state team, I had to be the anchor, make sure the team wins and stay till the end. One of my favourite - inside-out (shot). Not to be part of the squad which was practising, to miss a few games, it was difficult for me. But the management and every team mate ensured that I remained positive. It did help a lot.
Comments from the players!!
KL Rahul : It is as simple as that. We didn't bat really well. Big pressure game and we expected 180-190 on the board, unfortunately we couldn't soak in the pressure and get a big total. Disappointed but that's how IPL goes. We didn't have results going our way in the first half. The team still felt we were playing good cricket. We were patchy at times with the bowling and the batting didn't come together in the first half, we started doing well in the second half and really proud that we gave ourselves an opportunity to come into the top four. Unfortunate that today and yesterday's game didn't go our way but proud of the team. Hopefully come back stronger next year and forget this year. If you look back at it , we had a lot of games in our pocket but we couldn't get over the line. We only have ourselves to blame. At the start of the tournament, that short run has come back to bite us very hard. We all make mistakes and we have made a few this season. We need to accept it, learn from it and come back stronger.
Faf du Plessis: Sorry Danny I would like to give you a bat but I only get so many bats. That scoop is the shot I play often and quite bummed that I couldn't get it but pleased for us to finish the season with a win. He (Gaikwad) looks like a young Virat Kohli doesn't he. What stands out for me the most is is his composure. Pressure situations don't really get to him. That is always pleasing to see in a young guy and looks like he has a bright future. I am still loving it. I have got a lot of cricket left in me, at least five years.
So, that is it from both this match and the season for CSK and KXIP. They finish the chase by a nine-wicket margin. Despite Deepak Hooda's superb big hitting, 154 was never going to be enough and CSK proved the same. The young Ruturaj Gaikwad started off pretty slowly with just one run off the first nine balls but Faf du Plessis helped him with some lofted shots to increase the run-rate. du Plessis as so good that CSK managed to get 57 runs in the Powerplay. Gaikwad eventually got going but he got a lucky break when third umpire Chris Gaffaney ruled that Mandeep Singh had grassed the catch in the 8th over bowled by Ravi Bishnoi. A couple of overs later, du Plessis fell to Chris Jordan's slower ball but Gaikwad and Rayudu saw off the chase in a comfortable manner. Gaikwad especially started to play some eye-catchy shots to get to his third consecutive fifty.
Even though CSK might have been knocked out with four games to go, they would be pretty happy with how these last few matches have gone. The discovery of Ruturaj Gaikwad might prove to be especially valuable as CSK build for the 2021 IPL season.
18.5 Chris Gayle to Ambati Rayudu, full and outside off as Rayudu digs it out pas the cover fielder who misfields and the pair take the winning run! CSK have won their third match in a row!
KXIP are out of the playoffs race with that loss!
18.4 Chris Gayle to Ruturaj Gaikwad, straighter one at the stumps as Gaikwad runs it down to long on. Scores level!
18.3 Chris Gayle to Ambati Rayudu, full and on the leg side as Rayudu sweeps it down to square leg for another single in the over
18.2 Chris Gayle to Ruturaj Gaikwad, fuller one at the pads as Gaikwad runs it down to square leg for a single
18.1 Chris Gayle to Ambati Rayudu, slower one from Gayle at the leg stump as Rayudu runs it down to the long on region for one
17.6 Mohammed Shami to Ruturaj Gaikwad, pitched up and quicker one as Gaikwad digs it out to mid-off for a dot to end the over
17.5 Mohammed Shami to Ruturaj Gaikwad, slower one outside off as Gaikwad waits for it and smashes it past the point fielder for two runs as the sweeper collects well in the deep
17.4 Mohammed Shami to Ruturaj Gaikwad, PEACH! out-swinging delivery outside off a Gaikwad had a stab at it but the ball is just shy of the outside edge!
17.3 Mohammed Shami to Ruturaj Gaikwad, FOUR MORE! banged in short by Shami as Gaikwad stands back and WHACKS that one towards the cow corner and goes over the rope with one bounce! Just seven runs needed now!
17.2 Mohammed Shami to Ruturaj Gaikwad, FOUR! Luck going for Gaikwad as the bouncer got way over Rahul who put his hand up but missed and the ball is down to the rope!
17.1 Mohammed Shami to Ambati Rayudu, quicker one at the stumps as Rayudu works it off the back foot and trods lazily for the run but Neesham had a go at the stumps at the bowler's end!
Less than run-a-ball equation for CSK now. They only require 16 off 18 balls.
Over: 17 |
Summary: 1 1 0 1 4 1
Bowler: Chris Jordan
Score: 138/1
16.6 Chris Jordan to Ambati Rayudu, quicker one outside off and Rayudu plays it down to the mid-off for a quick single as the fielder has a go at the stumps but misses!
16.5 Chris Jordan to Ambati Rayudu, FOUR! banged in short and outside off as Rayudu dances down the track and lofts the ball over the cover fielders for another boundary for CSK as they inch closer to the target!
