IPL 2019: Match 41, CSK vs SRH – Chennai Super Kings Player Ratings

The Chennai Super Kings stamped their authority at the top of the points table in the ongoing edition of the IPL yet again. With a thoroughly convincing win against an in-form Sunrisers Hyderabad, team CSK now stand with 16 points and are firmly placed at the top in the race to the playoffs. The clash between the two sides proved to be a high scoring game and it was a rather uncharacteristic behaviour from the Chennai wicket that has been playing out differently throughout the season.

Earlier in the game, MS Dhoni won the toss and asked SRH to bat first. The visitors had a tame start to the innings with Jonny Bairstow perishing for a duck. Manish Pandey, who was drafted in the side for this game, joined hands with David Warner to add valuable 115 runs for the second wicket. While Warner finished with a timely 57, it was Pandey’s unbeaten 83 that gave a real backbone to the innings. CSK bowlers struggled to contain the run flow on the batting-friendly Chepauk track as SRH finished with 175/3 in the stipulated 20 overs.

In the run chase, CSK lost Faf du Plessis early, but it was the other overseas import, Shane Watson, who scripted the run chase for them. Watson struck his form yet again and scored a thundering 96 off just 53 balls to anchor the chase. He was very well supported by the likes of Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina. Towards the end, it was a calm and collected Kedar Jadhav who sealed the game for CSK with a crucial six in the final over of the game. Yet again, a CSK game went down to the last over of the match.

Here are the CSK Player Ratings for the match:

Shane Watson – 9.5/10

Shane Watson had a string of poor scores in the lead up to this game. He was under tremendous pressure to perform – a pressure situation he had last experienced in the finals of IPL 2018. Back then, he had responded well with a century, and this time around, he was unfortunate to miss out on a well deserved century by just 4 runs. Watson smashed 96 off just 53 balls with 9 boundaries and 6 powerful maximums to his name. He anchored the run chase and almost singlehandedly won it for his side.

Faf du Plessis – 1/10

The awful starts for the Chennai Super Kings continued in this season of the IPL. South African veteran Faf du Plessis struggled to get going in the power play and his struggle lasted for 7 deliveries against the new ball before a direct hit from Deepak Hooda ended his stay at the crease. It was a touch and go scenario, and du Plessis missed the mark by an inch and headed back to the pavilion with a score of 1.

Suresh Raina – 8/10

Suresh Raina looked in sublime form with the bat on the day. Some of the shots that he played reminded the fans of the vintage Raina from the vault. He did not let the early wicket of Faf du Plessis unsettle the CSK march in the run chase. He took the counter attack and scored quick 38 off just 24 deliveries. He hit 6 fours and a six during his stay at the crease.

Ambati Rayudu – 5/10

Ambati Rayudu has failed to impress in this season of the IPL. The luckless and dry run of the veteran batter continued in this game as well. He looked quite uncomfortable during his stay at the crease. In the 25 balls that he faced, he could only muster 21 runs. Also, with just 1 needed to win the game, he went for the all flashy glory shot but ended up getting dismissed.

Kedar Jadhav – 6/10

Kedar Jadhav walked in to bat at a tricky situation in the run chase. He found himself on strike in the final over of the game when CSK needed 9 to win. Kedar showed great skill to hit a six and seal the fate of the game. He remained unbeaten on 11 off 10 balls as the Super Kings romped home with 6 wickets in hand.

MS Dhoni – 5/10

It is not an everyday story that you see MS Dhoni look a little confused about who to go to when the chips are down. He looked wanting for options in a bid to take wickets. While he failed to do so, the fact that CSK contained SRH to a total under 180, is quite commendable. On the personal front, he was amazing with the gloves and took a sharp catch to dismiss Jonny Bairstow. He did not get a chance to bat.

Dwayne Bravo – 3/10

Dwayne Bravo was asked to deliver the goods for his side in this game with the other bowlers failing to pick up wickets. Bravo is a proven wicket-taker and partnership breaker in the history of the IPL. No wonder why MS Dhoni gave the veteran Caribbean all-rounder four overs to try his luck with the ball. Bravo was largely unsuccessful and returned with 0/34 in his spell.

Ravindra Jadeja – 3/10

There was not much assistance for the spin bowlers in this game. The fact that only three SRH wickets fell showed that even the mighty CSK bowling lineup struggled to get assistance on this track. Ravindra Jadeja bowled his complete quota of overs and finished with 0/33 to his name. He did not get an opportunity to bat in this game.

Deepak Chahar – 7/10

Deepak Chahar was excellent with the new ball yet again. The swing bowler bowled a tight first over of the match and the rewards were rightly reaped by CSK in the second over. Chahar continued to bowl economically in this game as well, as has been his talking point throughout the season. In the four overs that he bowled, he conceded just 30 runs and picked up the wicket of Vijay Shankar. It was a rare sight to see him bowl in the death overs, but he managed to do reasonably well there as well.

Harbhajan Singh – 7.5/10

Harbhajan Singh walked into the side for the game and had an impact straight away. Throughout the season, whenever Harbhajan has played, he has bowled in the power play. And on almost every occasion, he has managed to pick up wickets. This game was no exception either. He dismissed Jonny Bairstow – the danger man – in his very first over. Later in the SRH innings, he also dismissed the other man in form, David Warner. Harbhajan finished with 2/39 in his quota of four overs.

Imran Tahir – 3/10

Imran Tahir has been the most successful bowler for the Chennai Super Kings this season. In almost every game that he has played, he has managed to pick up a wicket. This match turned out to be one of those rare occasions when the veteran spinner failed to bag one. He bowled his full quota of overs and finished with 0/38.

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