11.30pm CSK continue to soar in IPL 2021. SRH continue to languish at the bottom. That's all she wrote for this evening. Thanks for your company and comments. Do come back for tomorrow's double-header. Until then, stay safe and take care. This is Deivarayan Muthu signing off.
Gaikwad, Player of the Match: Obviously, it means a lot, but a little bit disappointed I couldn't finish it. I'd loved to be not out. I think the wicket was a little bit two-paced: some were skidding and some were stopping. It was about hitting the gaps. One or two bowlers had an off day and I had to keep going. Fortunately, it came off today. I want to keep performing every match and be consistent.
11.20pm Dhoni: The batting performance was superb, but that doesn't mean the bowling was not good. It was a surprisingly good Delhi wicket, there was no dew. Brilliant opening partnership. I think addressing the problem [what's been different for CSK this year?] The earlier you settle the issue, the better it is. The fact was 5-6 months we were out of cricket last year and that also makes it difficult. Longer quarantine and quite a lot of factors. If I have to sum it up, the players have taken up more responsibility this year. If you see for the last 8-10 years, we have not changed players from the squad. We also appreciate the players who don't get the chance. Try to have faith and when you get an opportunity, you need to be ready for it. Keeping the dressing-room atmosphere healthy is important. We need to give extra credit to the players who are not playing.
10.58pm CSK secure their fifth successive victory and move back to the top of the points table. SRH, however, remain at the foot of the table with just a solitary win in six matches. Jadhav and Raina exchange hugs and smiles. At one point, it looked like Gaikwad and Faf would mow the target down with all ten wickets to spare. Such a dominant victory for Dhoni's men
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Warner: I take full responsibility for the way I batted. I batted slow and hit the fielders. The way Manish batted was exceptional. Kane and Kedhar got us to a respectable total, but at the end of the day I take full responsibility. Probably 15 good shots to fielders and they are the ones that make or break the innings. At the end of the day, I took too many balls. We fought well to the end, but the two [CSK] openers batted well. I'm not too sure. He was going to bat 4 and at the end of the day, we soaked up too many balls. At the end of the day, he bats at 4 and that's his job. I think we have a day game here as well. 170 is par during the night, but we need to be positive. We're a bunch of fighters. The guys will be hurt by this but we will be up and about.
Faf du Plessis, orange-cap holder: It feels good, but obviously winning is just as nice. My partnership with Rutu is very productive and positive signs for us. We try to make sure that my basics are good. The last season went well for me personally. I made sure that I keep doing well. I think 170 was a touch under what they needed to go. I think around 190 would have been a good score. It was a nice wicket, slowed down as thw ball got older, but overall a very good cricket wicket. I think we have a very good balance and the batting depth is very good. Even the depth in the bench - Robbie Uthappa and the guys. I think the biggest change for me is we have a bit more depth and balance in the squad. I've been disappointed that I haven't been taking many catches. Jaddu has been stealing the show. He's the Superman at the moment; I'm happy to grab one tonight.
Vivaan : "This Chennai batting is just too good, barring Ngidi all other players can wield the willow"
Akhil: "This is surely a batting second wicket. Not sure if Warner got carried away with the losses whole chasing in the previous games."
Mike: "Would love to see Williamson to be bought by CSK and groom his to be the next captain for few years. Best person to match Dhoni's temperament !"
Aravind Kumar M: "SRH lost today's match just because of Warner. His poor strike rate and his decisions on the field are pretty ordinary today. "
Benjie: "CSK strength is in their allrounders who've been in form...thus creating a situation where they have a very deep batting lineup...while not compromising their bowling attack!!!"
END OF OVER:18 | 9 Runs | CSK: 167/3 (5 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.27, RRR: 2.50)
- Suresh Raina12 (13b)
- Ravindra Jadeja6 (5b)
- Siddarth Kaul4-0-32-0
- Khaleel Ahmed4-0-36-0
IPL Fan: "@RajatMaheshwari which overseas player would you replace? Warner is the captain, Bairstow has been hitting the ball well, Williamson is Williamson, Rashid Khan is Rashid Khan."
END OF OVER:17 | 8 Runs | CSK: 158/3 (14 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.29, RRR: 4.66)
- Suresh Raina3 (7b)
- Ravindra Jadeja6 (5b)
- Khaleel Ahmed4-0-36-0
- Siddarth Kaul3-0-23-0
HarryFD: "If Suchith's overs are taken out of the equation SRH would be right in this. After his first over was dealt with comfortably, then his second, wonder if Warner had missed a trick by not trying Shankar. "
RajatMaheshwari: "Would have loved to see Mujeeb in this line up. Two Afghani spin maestros controlling the runs would have made this chase much tougher for CSK!!"