'We have to practise with the wet ball' - CSK skipper Ravindra Jadeja after defeat to LSG

Chennai Super Kings have suffered their second consecutive defeat in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The defending champions failed to defend a massive 210 against Lucknow Super Giants as the KL Rahul-led side crossed the line with three deliveries to spare, clinching the contest by six wickets. Meanwhile, dew played a vital role in the game as CSK bowlers endured a hard time bowling with the wet ball.

Bowlers and fielders tried to dry up the ball regularly but that didn’t help CSK much. From veteran Ravindra Jadeja to youngster Mukesh Choudhary, almost all CSK bowlers were taken to the cleaners as LSG recorded the fourth-highest successful run-chase in IPL history. Meanwhile, CSK skipper Jadeja wasn’t pleased with the outcome as he believes that his team needs to practice with the wet ball to tackle the dew challenge.

There was a lot of dew, the ball wasn’t sticking to the hand: Ravindra Jadeja

He, however, also praised his batters for putting up a strong score on the board. “We had a very good start, Robbie and Shivam Dube were playing brilliantly. We had a good start, but in the fielding, we have to take catches then you’ll win matches. We should have taken those chances. There was a lot of dew, the ball wasn’t sticking to the hand,” said Jadeja in the post-match presentation.

“Next time, we have to practise with the wet ball. We batted brilliantly in the top-six and in the middle-overs. The wicket was very good to bat on. As a bowling unit, we need to execute our plans,” he added.

Meanwhile, CSK have now lost their first two games this season and it will be interesting to see how the four-time champions will bounce back. It must be noted that Jadeja replaced MS Dhoni as CSK skipper on the eve of IPL 2022. Hence, the all-rounder would be determined to make a mark with his leadership skills as well. Meanwhile, the yellow army will next meet Mayank Agarwal’s Punjab Kings at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday (April 3).