IPL 2019: Match 18 – CSK vs KXIP – Who Said What

Ravichandran Ashwin‘s homecoming to Chennai didn’t pan out as per his plans. His team was overhauled by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by a 5-wicket margin. On a tough deck, the home team batted first. It was Faf du Plessis who steered the team through initially in his first game of the season. Despite losing his opening partner early, the Proteas skipper remained positive. He went on to notch up his half-century in the game.

However, misery struck CSK twice in the same over. Ashwin dismissed both Faf and Suresh Raina off consecutive deliveries to plunge back right into the game. MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu, though, had other plans. They finished things on a high for the team and added 52 runs off the last five overs on a sluggish track. This helped the team get to 160 at the end of 20 overs.

The plans backfire for KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan

Harbhajan Singh started the proceedings for CSK with a double-wicket maiden right in the second over of the game. After these early blows, KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan looked to consolidate and rebuild the innings. The idea was to play out the spinners and later take the attack to the pacers.

However, not everyone is Andre Russell and this plan completely backfired. The spinners bowled tight lines and lengths. By the time the pacers came on, the asking rate was already sky high. Both Rahul and Khan fell towards the end and KXIP ultimately fell short by 22 runs.

Harbhajan Singh, the Man of the Match, said

We always have a plan in T20, sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn’t. It was nice to get him OUT in the first over. Mayank’s wicket was also important, he recently played for India and he is a really good youngster. I was looking to bowl slow to Gayle. I bowled slower and wider to him. In T20 cricket, it could have gone differently but I am glad it worked for me today.

MS Dhoni, the CSK captain, said

We had to get the Universe Boss out. If he gets going even 200 wouldn’t have been enough, Bhajji got us the wickets otherwise 160 was not enough. It was not a placid wicket but it became better in the second half. All three spinners did really well for us. Bhajji was really needed, over the years only off-spinners have troubled Chris Gayle. Last couple of overs of Scott were brilliant. It was important for him to start well because he had to bowl in powerplay.

Crowd support us 100%, whenever chips are down they lift us. It really helps when the crowd is behind. They come not only for games but also for practice. The love and affection showed by them is amazing. It feels good to be on top of the points table but it is a constant process, only 5 to 6 matches have been played and we need to keep improving in all aspects.

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