'You cannot point a finger at Ravindra Jadeja' - Kevin Pietersen backs CSK veteran after forgettable outing against LSG

Chennai Super Kings were outclassed by Lucknow Super Giants at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday. The defending champions could not defend the 210 runs they had put on board batting first. Though CSK were off to a slow start in the powerplay, they breached the 200 mark thanks to Ruturaj Gaikwad’s century. Subsequently, Ravindra Jadeja’s innings came under the scanner owing to his conservative approach.

Promoted up the order ahead of hard hitter Shivam Dube, Jadeja found it difficult to get going. He was not middling the ball and aimed to rotate the strike more often than not. He scored 16 runs in 19 deliveries and critics claimed that it added to CSK's woes in setting the formidable target. Former England cricketer, Kevin Pitersen has backed the all-rounder and stressed that one cannot write off India’s star.

"You're 100% right. Also, what you've got to do is you've got to give credit to Marcus Stoinis. Chennai did everything right. Last night, they got beaten by Marcus Stoinis. It was him in a stand alone scoring one of the great hundreds of the IPL,” said Pietersen as quoted by TOI.

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“So forget pointing your fingers. You cannot point a finger at Ravindra Jadeja like I am not having it at all. Absolutely not. That guy is an absolute star. He's one of the first picks for India. I mean, what he's done in the IPL for India. Leave the guy alone. Stoinis beat the Yellow Army yesterday," said Pietersen,” he added.

Marcus Stoinis disrupts Chepauk fortress

Marcus Stoinis led the charge for LSG against the CSK in their den. While the required run rate was climbing over 14, he paired up with Nicholas Pooran in a six-hitting spree. The final over of the innings required 17 runs with Mustafizur Rahman bowling. Stoinis finished the game with a six off the first delivery and three consecutive boundaries of subsequent deliveries. He scored an unbeaten 124 runs off 63 deliveries.