Devdutt Padikkal | Sportzwiki

Devdutt Padikkal

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli in action against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. (IPL)
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli in action against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. (IPL)
//

Losing To CSK In IPL 2021 Should Hurt Guys: Virat Kohli

Published on

Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper on Saturday said losing to Chennai Super Kings by 6 wickets at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium should hurt the team as they gave away a great opportunity to win the game and put MS Dhoni’s team under pressure.

Coach Mike Hesson and captain Virat Kohli addressed the team after a tough loss against CSK, and identified areas to improve ahead of the all-important fixture against MI on Sunday.

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli (Image Credit: Twitter)

Virat Kohli: RCB Squandered A Great Opportunity To Win Against CSK

RCB was in a very good position against CSK. But they failed to drive home the advantage despite a 111-run opening stand between captain Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal after being asked to bat first by MS Dhoni.

“Giving a game away when we knew, could have really put them under pressure, and won this one. It should hurt everyone when looking to win this tournament and go all the way. It should hurt guys that we gave away a great opportunity, which is acceptable as long as we are willing to learn from it,” skipper Virat Kohli said in a video post on RCB Twitter.

Mike Hesson will look to take RCB to the IPL Trophy | RCB
Mike Hesson will look to take RCB to the IPL Trophy | RCB

Coach Hesson said: “170 would have been a good score, everybody saw it got harder and harder to bat, the pitch was always going to be tough to start. 6/66 in the last 10, we would have wanted 10-15 more than that. You would have certainly wanted a few more runs.”

Both the RCB openers Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal struck spectacular fifties but CSK came back later in the game to restrict them to 156 for six. RCB managed only 45 runs in the remaining 6.4 overs after being in a position of strength from where they could have pushed for a score in the vicinity of 200.

Virat Kohli: 175 Would Have Been A Winning Total

Dwayne Bravo’s bowling changed the course of the RCB innings as he conceded only 24 runs in his four overs besides picking the wickets of RCB all-rounders Glenn Maxwell (11) and Harshal Patel (3).

Earlier, speaking at the post-match presentation, Kohli said: “The wicket did slow down a bit. But I feel we left out 15-20 runs out there. 175 would’ve been a winning total. Didn’t bowl consistently. Didn’t show that much courage I guess with the ball.”

Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)
Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)/ AFP PHOTO / PUNIT PARANJPE

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ambati Rayudu played knocks of 38 and 32 respectively as CSK chased down the target of 157 with six wickets in hand. With this win, the MS Dhoni-led outfit went to the top of the table.

Earlier, Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli scored 70 and 53 respectively to help RCB post 156/6 in the allotted twenty overs. Both openers shared a stand of 111 runs for the first wicket, but Dwayne Bravo’s spell of 3-24 helped CSK restrict RCB under the 160-run mark.

You might be interested in

Chennai Super Kings (Image Credit: Twitter)
Chennai Super Kings (Image Credit: Twitter)
//

Chennai Super Kings Batting More Aggressively In IPL 2021 Than IPL 2020: Eric Simons

Published on

Chennai Super Kings batsmen had planned to bat more aggressively on the slowish UAE tracks compared to last time, and that’s what they have been doing during the first two games, said CSK bowling consultant Eric Simons.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) produced a clinical all-round show to humble Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by six wickets and claim the top spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) pecking order in Sharjah on Friday.

Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings. Image Credits: Twitter

Chennai Super Kings Bowling Consultant Eric Simons Said Difference From Last IPL 2020 Was CSK Batted More Aggressively

The former India bowling coach said that the last IPL 2020 was a good learning experience for the Chennai Super Kings yellow brigade failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in their IPL history.

“So, what went wrong here in the last IPL was a tremendous lesson for us. But I think, probably the biggest different is the aggression in our batting, we have come out lot more aggressive than we did last time,” Simons said at the post-match press conference after his side outplayed Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Eric Simmons
Eric Simons

Eric Simons also had words of praise for all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who returned with figures of 3/24, saying the team was delighted with his performance and the West Indian has bowled exceptionally well in the last few matches. All-rounder Shardul Thakur also scalped two crucial wickets, and Eric Simons said that the Palghar boy was very smart in using his tactics and ability to read the wicket and the batsman in the crunch situation.

Eric Simons: MS Dhoni-led CSK Learned Its Lesson From A Miserable IPL 2020 At UAE

Eric Simons also said that the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings outfit had learned its lesson after a horrendous show in the 2020 edition, which was also held in the UAE.

“We have already spoken about what worked for us in India during the first half of the IPL (2021). We spoke about what we did wrong here (in the United Arab Emirates last time). You know any situation, often the bad performance is the best place to learn,” Simons said.

Shardul Thakur. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Shardul Thakur. (Photo Source: Twitter)

If Dwayne Bravo put up a fantastic bowling performance, it was Shardul Thakur, who kept things tidy, scalping two wickets to dampen RCB’s batting after a fine start. CSK coach Eric Simons said the self-belief helped Shardul Thakur fight back after going for 18 runs in the first two overs.

In the 15th over, Shardul Thakur conceded just four runs and returned for his final over in the 17th over of RCB’s innings, with AB de Villiers still on the crease. He was hammered for a six, but Shardul Thakur returned and sent him back in the same over. Then came the prized wicket of top scorer Devdutt Padikkal, who was set with 70 runs. However, his slower short ball was poorly executed, and the pacer got his second wicket with RCB struggling.

You might be interested in

Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen. Image Credits: Twitter
//

Kevin Pietersen: It Is An Issue That RCB Lost The Game From A Very Good Position From Being 111/0

Published on

Kevin Pietersen, former England batsman said the Royal Challengers Bangalore have a couple of big issues which they need to sort quickly in order to get their campaign back on track in IPL 2021.

RCB lost to current table-toppers Chennai Super Kings by 6 wickets in Sharjah on Friday. This loss came after the 9-wicket hammering they took against KKR in their first match of the second leg in Abu Dhabi where the team was dismissed after scoring only 92.

Kevin Pietersen file image | Faheem Hussain - Sportzpics
Kevin Pietersen file image | Faheem Hussain – Sportzpics

Kevin Pietersen: It Is An Issue That RCB Lost The Game From A Very Good Position From Being 111/0

Kevin Pietersen said, unlike in the last game, RCB was in a very good position against CSK. But they failed to drive home the advantage despite a 111-run opening stand between captain Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal after being asked to bat first by MS Dhoni.

“You can gain momentum through winning and then you can gain momentum through losing as well. If you are going to get hammered like they were against KKR and now you are going to lose a game from being in a very good position then there is a problem. They were 111 for no loss but lost the game, that’s an issue,” Kevin Pietersen said in the post-match show on Star Sports.

Royal Challengers Bangalore
Royal Challengers Bangalore (Image Credit: Twitter)

Both the RCB openers Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal struck spectacular fifties but CSK pulled the strings to restrict them to 156 for six. RCB managed only 45 runs in the remaining 6.4 overs after being in a position from where they could have pushed for a score in the vicinity of 200.

Dwayne Bravo Restricted RCB To Below 160 From 111 For No Loss

Dwayne Bravo’s bowling changed the course of the RCB innings as he conceded only 24 runs in his four overs besides picking the wickets of RCB all-rounders Glenn Maxwell (11) and Harshal Patel (3).

In reply, CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf Du Plessis added 71 runs in 8.2 overs and later Moeen Ali (23) and Ambati Rayudu (32) also got starts but could not convert those into big knocks. Suresh Raina (17) and skipper MS Dhoni (11) ensured that there were no further hiccups, taking the side past the finish line.

Neither of the two RCB Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj nor Navdeep Saini could trouble the CSK openers. Whether the ball was pitched up, short, or bowled at a good length, Ruturaj Gaikwad and his Protea partner treated them with equal disdain. Realizing that spinners may turn the game around, Virat Kohli handed the ball to off-spinner Glenn Maxwell and the Australian responded with the wicket of Faf du Plessis, who was guilty of playing a loose shot.

Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)
Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)/ AFP PHOTO / PUNIT PARANJPE

However, middle-order batsmen of CSK Ambati Rayudu and Moeen Ali did not show any respect to the slow bowlers. They worked the ball around to keep the scoreboard moving and also got the big shots.

“There are bowling issues too. We keep saying it, who is the bowler (who is going get wickets… Chahal can’t continue to do it. I know h gets wickets, he gets wickets for RCB but you cannot say to him that you’ve got to do it every match. Somebody else has to stand up. One of the seamers have to stand up,” Kevin Pietersen added.

Kevin Pietersen said RCB and Virat Kohli can’t be depending on Yuzvendra Chahal alone to deliver with the ball every time. The duo of Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini overall gave away 48 runs overall in 5 overs, while Wanindu Hasaranga conceded 40 runs in 4 overs.

You might be interested in

Devdutt Padikkal , RCB Twitter handle
Devdutt Padikkal , RCB Twitter handle
//

Devdutt Padikkal Disappointed That RCB Did Not Set A Target Of 170-180 After Starting Well

Published on
Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli scored 70 and 53 to help RCB post 156/6 in the allotted twenty overs. Both openers shared a stand of 111 runs for the first wicket, but Dwayne Bravo’s spell of 3-24 helped CSK restrict RCB under the 160-run mark.
After suffering a six-wicket loss against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) opening batsman Devdutt Padikkal said that his side should have been able to post a target of around 170-180.
Devdutt Padikkal celebrating his sixth IPL fifty(iplt20.com)
Devdutt Padikkal celebrating his sixth IPL fifty(iplt20.com)

Devdutt Padikkal Feels RCB Can Improve After Losing Their First 2 Consecutive IPL 2021 Games In UAE To KKR And CSK

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ambati Rayudu played knocks of 38 and 32 respectively as CSK chased down the target of 157 with six wickets in hand. With this win, MS Dhoni-led’s outfit went to the top of the table. Faf du Plessis also got among the runs as he scored 31. He is now 3rd among players with the most runs(351) in IPL 2021, while Ruturaj Gaikwad is 5th on the list with 322 runs.

“Yeah, definitely. There are always some things we can improve on. At that stage, we were looking to take the game deep, we felt that the wicket was getting a little tougher and we knew it would not be easy for someone new coming into bat. So, yeah that was what we were looking to do and trying to take our chances whenever we can,” said Padikkal during a virtual post-match press conference.

Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad (Image Credit: Twitter)
Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad (Image Credit: Twitter)

Last year in the IPL 2020, Devdutt Padikkal amassed 473 runs from 15 matches, becoming only the second player in the tournament’s history to score over 400 runs in a debut season. In IPL 2021, Devdutt Padikkal had taken his tally to 287 runs from 8 matches, including a century averaging 41 at a strike rate of around 145. He is 7th in the leading run-getters tally in IPL 2021.

Devdutt Padikkal Disappointed That RCB Did Not Set A Target Of 170-180 After Starting Well

Openers Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli scored 70 and 53 to build a solid foundation and help RCB post 156/6 in the allotted twenty overs. Both openers shared a stand of 111 runs for the first wicket, but Dwayne Bravo’s spell of 3-24 helped CSK restrict RCB under the 160-run mark.

Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)
Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)/ AFP PHOTO / PUNIT PARANJPE

“Obviously when you have a start like that you would like to get 170-180 at least. We really did not set a target like that, we were trying to play to the merit of the ball, unfortunately, it did not work out against CSK. But hopefully, we can make that right in the next game,” said Devdutt Padikkal.

RCB will next square off against Mumbai Indians in the IPL on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium.

You might be interested in

MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni (Image Credit: Twitter)
//

MS Dhoni Is Called Mentor Singh Dhoni With A Reason That Everyone Trusts Him: Parthiv Patel

Published on

MS Dhoni marshalled his bowling attack well once again as table-toppers Chennai Super Kings outclassed Royal Challengers Bangalore by 6 wickets on Friday. CSK returned to the top of the points table after their 7th win of the season. Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel was all praise for skipper MS Dhoni after Chennai Super Kings comfortably beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in a crunch IPL 2021 encounter.

Parthiv Patel said MS Dhoni continues to be a master tactician when it comes to the shortest format of the game. Shedding light on MS Dhoni’s success as captain in the IPL, Parthiv Patel said the former India captain has earned the trust of his players and it becomes easier to plan and execute tactics in the middle.

MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni (Image Credit: Twitter)

Parthiv Patel: There’s A Reason Why MS Dhoni Is Called Mentor Singh Dhoni As He Was Appointed Mentor Of Indian T20 Team At T20I World Cup

Parthiv Patel’s comments came after MS Dhoni-led CSK to the top of the table once again after the convincing victory over RCB. MS Dhoni and his good friend Suresh Raina took fans back on the memory lane as both of them remained unbeaten and helped CSK complete a 157-run chase in 18.1 overs.

However, the victory for CSK was set up by their pace bowlers. RCB got off to a flying start in Sharjah as openers Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli sent balls flying into the stands in a 111-run opening stand. However, RCB imploded in the last 10 overs, managing just 66 runs and losing 6 wickets.

“There is a reason why we now say Mentor Singh Dhoni,” Parthiv Patel told Star Sports on Friday, highlighting Dhoni’s role as India’s mentor at the T20 World Cup will only benefit the team.

File image of Parthiv Patel | Vipin Pawar /SPORTZPICS
File image of Parthiv Patel | Vipin Pawar /SPORTZPICS

“He has been around for so many years, he understands the situation. He is a master of reading the pitches and a master of how to get the best out of your bowlers. He knows how to get the best out of Bravo, Shardul Thakur, or Deepak Chahar. The good thing is that everyone trusts him. When there is a good plan, everyone trusts him with it because there is a lot of experience behind it and a lot of success behind it,” he said.

MS Dhoni conceded that CSK was worried about the dew on the Sharjah pitch when RCB openers Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli were going great guns after he sent them to bat after winning the toss. The two RCB openers added 111 for the opening wicket before pacers Dwayne Bravo and Shardul Thakur pulled things back for CSK.

MS Dhoni Sheds Light On Managing To Convince Dwayne Bravo To Limit Usage Of Slower Balls

Dwayne Bravo and Shardul Thakur, the pace all-rounders played crucial roles in helping CSK pull things back in the second half of the RCB innings. Dwayne Bravo got the first breakthrough by picking the big wicket of Virat Kohli in the 14th over, triggering RCB’s collapse. The West Indies all-rounder finished with figures of 3/24 to emerge as the Player of the Match.

Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)
Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)/ AFP PHOTO / PUNIT PARANJPE

After the victory against RCB, MS Dhoni himself shed light on how he had managed to convince Dwayne Bravo to limit the usage of his slower balls while heaping praise on the T20 ace. MS Dhoni had also convinced Dwayne Bravo to use his slower balls as an element of surprise in T20 cricket.

On the other hand, Shardul Thakur broke the back of the RCB batting unit, getting the wicket of AB de Villiers and a well-set Devdutt Padikkal in successive deliveries in the 17th over. MS Dhoni said he is happy that Dwayne Bravo has turned up fit for the UAE leg of IPL 2021 and revealed he has friendly arguments with his “brother”.

Chennai Super Kings 157 for 4 (Gaikwad 38, Rayudu 32, Harshal 2-25) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 156 for 6 (Padikkal 70, Kohli 53, Bravo 3-24, Thakur 2-29) by six wickets.

You might be interested in

MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni
//

MS Dhoni As Mentor Is The Greatest Decision India T20 Team Has Made, Says Michael Vaughan

Published on

Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, reckons the move to appoint MS Dhoni as a mentor for the T20 World Cup is among the greatest decisions made in Indian cricket.

MS Dhoni was in his element as captain, leading from the front as the table-toppers Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by six wickets in Match 35 of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) in Sharjah on Friday.

MS Dhoni had retired from international cricket on 15th August 2020 and is the only captain to win all 3 ICC trophies- T20 and ODI World Cups and Champions Trophy.

Michael Vaughan (Image Credit: Twitter)
Michael Vaughan (Image Credit: Twitter)

Michael Vaughan: Combinations In The CSK Batting Lineup Can Change Depending On The Pitch And Opposition Bowlers

Michael Vaughan hailed MS Dhoni’s leadership moves which were on display during CSK’s triumph over RCB. He was particularly impressed with the way MS Dhoni used Ambati Rayudu to tackle the Glenn Maxwell threat.

“You look at Rayudu, why did they put him in the position that he got put in? Because the off-spinner (Maxwell) was on. And what did he do first ball to the off-spinner? He danced down the track and whacked him for four.

“It was smart cricket. You have got combinations in the Chennai Super Kings’ batting line-up that can change depending on the pitch, depending on who is bowling,” Michael Vaughan said in a discussion on Cricbuzz.

MS Dhoni (BCCI/IPL)
MS Dhoni (BCCI/IPL)

According to the Ashes-winning England skipper, MS Dhoni and Co. are always trying to one-up the opposition.

Michael Vaughan explained: “MS Dhoni and his team would have realized that if Maxwell got a wicket, he would probably bowl again and more than the two overs that he eventually did. That’s why they sent in a right-hander to make sure that it doesn’t get to that stage. That’s being flexible and not having an ego about where you bat. CSK are always thinking about what the opposition are going to do.”

Carrying on in his praise of MS Dhoni, Michael Vaughan backed the BCCI’s decision to appoint MS Dhoni as the mentor of India’s T20 World Cup squad.

“I know there was a bit of commotion when Dhoni was put in the mentoring role for the T20 World Cup. It is the greatest decision the Indian T20 team has made. You need that kind of brain in and around that dugout and training zones, getting into these players’ minds over how to play T20 cricket. He just does it without thinking. He is such a natural at what he delivers and he seems to get it right 90-95 percent of the time. He is a master,” the 46-year-old Michael Vaughan opined.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ambati Rayudu played knocks of 38 and 32, respectively, as CSK chased 157 against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with six wickets in hand. With this win, the MS Dhoni-led outfit went to the top of the table. Faf du Plessis also got among the runs as he scored 31.

Earlier, RCB openers Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli scored 70 and 53 respectively to help RCB post 156/6 in the allotted twenty overs. Both openers shared a stand of 111 runs for the first wicket, but CSK all-rounder Dwayne Bravo’s spell of 3-24 helped CSK restrict RCB under the 160-run mark.

MS Dhoni Felt Left Hand-Right Hand Combination Is Important And Feels All CSK Cricketers Are Good Enough To Bat In Any Position

MS Dhoni (11 not out) was at the non-striker’s end when Suresh Raina (17 not out) hitting the winning runs against RCB. Speaking after the match, MS Dhoni also shed light on the decision to send Ambati Rayudu ahead of Suresh Raina in the batting order. According to the veteran CSK skipper, the left-right combination (Moeen Ali was batting at the other end) worked well for the team under the circumstances.

“Looking at the wicket, I felt left-right combo was important. We bat deep, we have a lot of left-handers, so in the back of the head it’s there. And I feel all of them are good enough to play in any position. That’s why we went with the left-right combination,” Dhoni explained.

Suresh Raina wants CSK to win IPL 2021 title for MS Dhoni | Photo Credit: PTI
Suresh Raina wants CSK to win IPL 2021 title for MS Dhoni | Photo Credit: PTI

You might be interested in

Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad (Image Credit: Twitter)
Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad (Image Credit: Twitter)
//

IPL 2021: Ruturaj Gaikwad Says He And Faf du Plessis Complement Each Other Well

Published on

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batsman, has said that he and Faf du Plessis complement each other really well, and they know how to work well as a batting partnership.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ambati Rayudu played knocks of 38 and 32, respectively, as CSK chased 157 against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with six wickets in hand. With this win, the MS Dhoni-led outfit went to the top of the table. Faf du Plessis also got among the runs as he scored 31.

Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Image Credit: Twitter)

Ruturaj Gaikwad Opens Up On His Partnership With Faf du Plessis: ‘We Complement Each Other Well’

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has told that he and his opening partner Faf du Plessis knows which opposition bowler to go after and when is the right time to attack.

“I was very happy when we won the last match, happy with this one as well. The opening partnership is always important, the new ball was coming onto the bat, we just had to play good cricketing shots,” Ruturaj Gaikwad told host broadcaster Star Sports after the game.

Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis (Image Credit: Twitter)

“We complement each other well (on his partnership with Faf du Plessis), we know when to attack and which bowler to go after, that’s what is working well for us. Just try and be consistent, just contribute for the team, whatever you can do for the team, that’s important,” Ruturaj HGaikwad added.

Earlier, RCB openers Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli scored 70 and 53 respectively to help RCB post 156/6 in the allotted twenty overs. Both openers shared a stand of 111 runs for the first wicket, but CSK all-rounder Dwayne Bravo’s spell of 3-24 helped CSK restrict RCB under the 160-run mark. CSK will next square off against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL on Sunday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Dwayne Bravo’s 3/24 Helped CSK Restrict RCB Under 160

From 111 for 0 in 13 overs, Royal Challengers Bangalore could manage only a below-par 156 for 6. If it was a ridiculous batting meltdown in the first game of the restart where they were shot out for only 92 onboard against KKR, they were hampered by a middle-order meltdown in their next match against CSK. From 111 for 0 in 13 overs, they ended with a below-par 156 for 6, and then let the loss in momentum boil over on the field.

Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)
Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)/ AFP PHOTO / PUNIT PARANJPE

AB de Villers came in at the No. 3 spot upon Virat Kohli’s dismissal in the 14th over to Dwayne Bravo and found run-scoring difficult. After Virat Kohli was sent back, Shardul Thakur dismissed AB de Villiers (12) and Devdutt Padikkal (70) in quick succession and brought CSK back into the game. Then, Dwayne Bravo removed RCB all-rounders Glenn Maxwell (11) and Harshal Patel (3).

Dwayne Bravo kept denying Glenn Maxwell, who struggled for timing and eventually snuffed him out by bowling slow and away from his hitting arc. However, the mastery over his slower variations was all too evident as he finished with 3 for 24. With this win, the MS Dhoni-led outfit went to the top of the table. CSK restricted RCB to 156/6 in their 20 overs, which was a below-par total considering RCB was very comfortably placed at 111/0 in 13.1 overs.

You might be interested in

File photo of Dwayne Bravo. Image Source: GETTY IMAGES
File photo of Dwayne Bravo. Image Source: GETTY IMAGES
//

CSK Showed A Good Bowling Display At The End Of The RCB’s Innings – Dwayne Bravo

Published on
Dwayne Bravo, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder, has revealed that the side’s bowling group prides itself on bowling well at the backend of an innings.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ambati Rayudu played knocks of 38 and 32, respectively, as CSK chased 157 against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with six wickets in hand. With this win, the MS Dhoni-led outfit went to the top of the table.
Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)
Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)/ AFP PHOTO / PUNIT PARANJPE

Dwayne Bravo hails CSK’s bowling show:

Dwayne Bravo got the crucial and much-needed first breakthrough in the 14th over when he dismissed Virat Kohli for 53 runs. And then the tide turned in CSK’s favour from thereon.

After Virat Kohli was sent back, Shardul Thakur dismissed AB de Villiers (12) and Devdutt Padikkal (70) in quick succession and brought CSK back into the game. Then, Dwayne Bravo removed RCB all-rounders Glenn Maxwell (11) and Harshal Patel (3) to help CSK restrict RCB to 156/6 in their 20 overs, which was a below-par total considering RCB was very comfortably placed at 111/0 in 13.1 overs.

Devdutt Padikkal
Devdutt Padikkal (Image Credit: Twitter)

“I think it was a great team performance, we showed a good bowling display at the backend of the RCB’s innings. It put us in a good position at the halfway stage. We had to chase 157 on a small ground like Sharjah.

“We will take it every other day. As a bowling group, we pride ourselves on the backend of the innings, we know it is tough. When you come up against quality batters, you have to just back your skills,” Dwayne Bravo told teammate Ambati Rayudu in a video posted on iplt20.com.

“For me, before the game, I try bowling around the wicket in the nets session and I try to land wide yorkers just to try to mix up the angles and give myself the best option to go straight or wide. It worked against RCB, Jadeja’s spell was very crucial. We tried to shut RCB down and it worked,” Dwayne Bravo added.

Earlier, Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli scored 70 and 53 respectively to help RCB post 156/6 in the allotted twenty overs. Both openers shared a stand of 111 runs for the first wicket, but Dwayne Bravo’s spell of 3-24 helped CSK restrict RCB under the 160-run mark. CSK will next square off against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL on Sunday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Ruturaj Gaikwad And Faf du Plessis Gave CSK A Solid Foundation

Chasing RCB’s 156, CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis gave Chennai Super Kings a solid foundation Ruturaj Gaikwad (38 runs off 26 balls) and Faf Du Plessis (31 runs off 26 balls) took CSK to 71/0 in 8.1 overs. But RCB hit back by removing the duo in quick succession. So the score suddenly went from 71/0 to 71/2.

Yuzvendra Chahal deceived Ruturaj Gaikwad with flight and turn as he attempted a drive but got a thick edge, and Virat Kohli, who was fielding at backward point, dived forward and took a brilliant catch. Faf du Plessis then tried to play a sweep off Glenn Maxwell but got a top edge and gave an easy catch to Navdeep Saini at short fine leg as the brakes were applied on the CSK innings.

Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Image Credit: Twitter)

Moeen Ali (23) and Ambati Rayudu (32) gave the yellow brigade a solid partnership as the duo put on a 47-run stand for the third wicket. However, Harshal Patel eventually dismissed both batsmen. Still, Suresh Raina (17) and MS Dhoni (11) ensured no more setbacks, as CSK completed a six-wicket win in 18.1 overs to register their second consecutive win in as many matches in the UAE leg of IPL 2021.

Chennai Super Kings 157 for 4 (Gaikwad 38, Rayudu 32, Harshal 2-25) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 156 for 6 (Padikkal 70, Kohli 53, Bravo 3-24, Thakur 2-29) by six wickets.

You might be interested in

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli in action against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. (IPL)
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli in action against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. (IPL)
//

Virat Kohli May Be Removed As RCB Skipper Mid-way Through UAE Leg Of IPL 2021

Published on

Virat Kohli could be removed as the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) mid-way through the ongoing UAE leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a former India cricketer has said. Virat Kohli earlier announced that he will step down as the captain of RCB after IPL 2021 concludes. Earlier this week, Virat Kohli had announced that he will relinquish his India T20I captaincy after the upcoming T20I World Cup to be staged in the UAE and Oman.

The reason for his axe as skipper seems to be quite evident after witnessing RCB’s meek surrender against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi on Monday. RCB had made a humiliating return to IPL’s UAE leg when they were bundled out for just 92 by KKR in their first match of Phase-2. It was RCB’s sixth-lowest total in IPL, as they lost to the Eoin Morgan-led KKR by nine wickets.

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli (Image Credit: Twitter)

Virat Kohli May Be Sacked As RCB Skipper Midway In IPL 2021

After opting to bat by winning the toss against KKR, Virat Kohli (5 runs off 4 balls) fell prey to pacer Prasidh Krishna in just the second over of the match. The 32-year-old batsman was trapped plumb in front and a bad review call didn’t help his case either. Even the body language of Virat Kohli was not the same, as it used to be, throughout the match. He was actually emanating shades of a player who has just decided to step down as the captain of RCB after the conclusion of IPL 2021.

Prasidh Krishna trapped Virat Kohli LBW for just 5 runs | Photo: BCCI / IPL
Prasidh Krishna trapped Virat Kohli LBW for just 5 runs | Photo: BCCI / IPL

His call to step down before the start of the IPL 2021 UAE leg further was criticized by many including former cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who had questioned the timing of his decision. He reckoned if Virat Kohli had to do something like that, he could have done it after the IPL was over. Some cricketers even went on suggesting that the team looked “unsettled” by the untimely announcement. One former India cricketer, on condition of anonymity said that it seems that Virat Kohli might be removed “mid-way”.

“Look at the way he was playing against Kolkata Knight Riders. Just clueless! It seems he is struggling big time right now. There are chances that he could be removed mid-way through the season. “

“It has happened earlier also with other teams — like with Dinesh Karthik in KKR and David Warner in Sunrisers Hyderabad, among others. They were either removed or they stepped down mid-way. So it can happen in RCB as well… I have this feeling after watching yesterday’s match. One more bad game and you can see a change in RCB captaincy right away,” said the former cricketer.

Virat Kohli was appointed the skipper of RCB ahead of the 2013 IPL season as a successor to outgoing captain Daniel Vettori. Since then, the side has unsatisfactory won 62 of the 132 matches under him, to go with 66 losses and 4 no-results, and an IPL trophy has forever eluded him. Appointed ahead of the 2013 season as a successor to spinner Daniel Vettori, Virat Kohli will end up with nine seasons at the helm for RCB.

AB de Villiers, Yuzvendra Chahal, And Devdutt Padikkal Are Likely Candidates To Replace Virat Kohli As RCB Skipper

Senior player AB de Villiers will probably be the apt candidate to replace Virat Kohli. He is greatly respected within the team. But there are also chances that he might not accept the offer. Yuzvendra Chahal’s name is also doing the rounds on the basis of seniority in the team. Yuzvendra Chahal has also been the leading wicket-taker for RCB in the IPL, clinching 125 wickets in 106 games that he has played for the franchise so far.

Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal. Image Credits: Twitter

Youngster Devdutt Padikkal’s name has been coined as well, following the trend seen in recent times of appointing young captains such as Delhi’s Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and Rajasthan’s Sanju Samson. The Karnataka batsman Devdutt Padikkal has been among the leading run-scorers for RCB in the last couple of seasons and is considered one of the favourites of Virat Kohli.

You might be interested in

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli in action against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. (IPL)
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli in action against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. (IPL)
//

It’s The Right Time For Virat Kohli To Step Down As RCB Skipper: Dale Steyn

Published on

Dale Steyn, former Proteas pacer believes that it is probably the right time for Virat Kohli to step aside from T20 captaincy and focus purely on his batting.

Virat Kohli announced last week that he would step down as India’s T20I captain after the upcoming T20 World Cup and a few days later, he announced that he would also give up the leadership of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) who is yet to win the coveted IPL trophy after the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Dale Steyn
Dale Steyn-RCB Twitter

Dale Steyn: Virat Kohli Is Involved In Everything And It’s The Right Time To Relinquish Captaincy

Dale Steyn had retired from Test cricket after taking 439 scalps from 93 Tests averaging 22.95. Dale Steyn also has 196 ODI scalps and 64 T20I scalps besides his name. Dale Steyn had also taken 97 scalps from 95 IPL matches playing many games for Royal Challengers Bangalore besides skipper Virat Kohli. He has played 33 matches for RCB taking 32 scalps.

“You see the way that he plays, he’s involved in everything, whether he’s in Test matches when he’s standing at first slip or even if he’s at the cover, he wants the ball immediately when it goes to the keeper, he always wants to be involved. But I think sometimes now in this COVID time maybe as Parthiv referred to bubble-life, his family that he’s got,” Dale Steyn said on Star Sports’ Live Feed of Select Dugout’.

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli (Image Credit: Twitter)

“It’s a lot of responsibility — and playing for RCB before — you see Virat, he’s in every advert and every meeting; he’s just so busy. So maybe it is the right time for him to just put this aside and focus purely on his batting,” Dale Steyn added.

While Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) started well in the first leg of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, they haven’t kick-started the UAE leg on an emphatic note.

Facing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their first match after season resumption, RCB suffered a humiliating nine-wicket defeat at Abu Dhabi. It was indeed a comprehensive win for the two-time champions as RCB never really looked in the hunt and failed in both batting and bowling departments.

Parthiv Patel: It Has Been A Rollercoaster Ride For Virat Kohli And RCB

Unfortunately for RCB, none of Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat, and Glenn Maxwell could play a substantial knock. Even, AB de Villiers, who has rescued RCB from numerous batting collapses, got out for a golden duck. As a result, RCB skittled out for just 92 runs. Chasing the mediocre total, KKR didn’t break a sweat.

Speaking about Virat’s decision, former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel said: “I think he looked more emotional than happy. I think when you’re playing for one franchise for so many years, you get that emotional connection which was there in RCB. I think RCB actually invested in Virat Kohli’s talent in 2008 and then showed a lot of trust in him as well because if you look at his and RCB’s journey, it has been a rollercoaster one.”

File image of Parthiv Patel | Vipin Pawar /SPORTZPICS
File image of Parthiv Patel | Vipin Pawar /SPORTZPICS

“But yeah, he might be relieved because see moving around from one bubble to another can take a load on you and he has spoken about the workload and intensity, which he plays with. I think every practice session, every match session or gym session, he does it with full intensity and that’s something I’m sure he must’ve thought about,” he added.

After stumbling to a nine-wicket loss against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Director of Cricket and head coach Mike Hesson said that skipper Virat Kohli’s announcement to step down after the ongoing season did not impact the team’s performance.  Virat Kohli became the first player to play 200 IPL matches for a franchise. Overall, he’s the fifth to get the feat.

You might be interested in

1 2 3 … 12