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Robin Uthappa

Rashid Khan. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
Rashid Khan. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
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Robin Uthappa Believes Rashid Khan Will Fetch Above INR 16 Crore In IPL 2022

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Rashid Khan is expected to create history as franchises, including Lucknow and Ahmedabad, would be keen to buy the world-class leg-spinner, after being released by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) before IPL 2022 auctions.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) releasing Rashid Khan ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 remains to be one of the biggest talking points in world cricket. Rashid Khan, who has single-handedly won matches for the Orange Army, reportedly wanted to be retained as SRH’s No. 1 player. However, the team management went for Kane Williamson – who will lead the side after David Warner was released.

Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan. Image Credits: Twitter

Rashid Khan Will Fetch Above INR 16 Crore Guesses Robin Uthappa

With Rashid Khan in the auction pool for IPL 2022 mega auctions, cricket fans can be rest assured of history being created by the Afghanistan spinner as every franchise, including Lucknow and Ahmedabad, will go deep into their pockets to buy him.

On the IPL retention day, soon after the retentions lists were announced, senior Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa was asked to guess an amount Rashid Khan would fetch at the auction. Robin Uthappa had represented Chennai Super Kings in the previous edition of the tournament.

“Well and truly above 16 crores,” Robin Uthappa told Star Sports.

It remains to be seen whether Rashid Khan goes into the mega auction or the two new franchises, who can buy three players each from the auction pool till December 25. But, whatever is the case, there’s no doubt that Rashid Khan would fetch a huge amount.

Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa (Image Credit: Twitter)

SRH retained three players in Kane Williamson (14 cr), Abdul Samad (4 cr), and Umran Malik (4 cr). SRH also ended its association with David Warner – who had guided them to their maiden IPL title in 2016.

In the UAE leg of IPL 2021, David Warner was abruptly sacked, and Kane Williamson led the squad. The exact reason behind what went wrong between SRH and David Warner is not yet known.

Rashid Khan has been SRH’s best bowler since joining the team back in 2017. His numbers in the IPL stand at a staggering 93 wickets from 76 games at an astonishing economy rate of 6.33.

Rashid Khan, who picked up 18 wickets in 14 matches in the last edition, has consistently turned heads with his bowling exploits in the IPL. Maintaining a good economy of 6.69, he was the seventh-best bowler in the Purple Cap standings last season.

Overall, Rashid Khan has scalped 93 wickets in 76 matches for SRH at an economy of 6.33. Only Bhuvneshwar Kumar (142 wickets), Sandeep Sharma (112 wickets), and Ashish Nehra (106 wickets) have a better wicket-taking record for the franchise than him.

SRH paid Rs 14 crores to New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson followed by Rs 4 crores each to uncapped Jammu and Kashmir talents Abdul Samad and Umran Malik. Meanwhile, David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were also released along with Rashid Khan.

KL Rahul And Shreyas Iyer Are Also Expected To Acquire Big Bucks At IPL 2022 Mega Auctions After Being Released By Punjab Kings And Delhi Capitals Respectively

Meanwhile, Rashid Khan is not the only big name to be a part of the auction pool as several overseas players in David Warner, Kagiso Rabada, Faf du Plessis, Jonny Bairstow, Marcus Stoinis, Trent Boult, Quinton de Kock are up for grabs at the auction.

KL Rahul
KL Rahul (Image Credit: Twitter)

Among Indian players, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have parted ways with Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC), respectively, and are also expected to fetch huge sums from the auction pool. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) also released Shubman Gill and might want to buy back the stylish opener at the auction.

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Rohit Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer
Rohit Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer
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The Way All-Rounder Venkatesh Iyer Bowled Will Give Rohit Sharma Lot More Confidence: Robin Uthappa

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Robin Uthappa has expressed satisfaction with the bowling performance of India’s latest T20I recruit Venkatesh Iyer. He has stated that that skipper Rohit Sharma will be more confident to throw the ball to him in the future. Following India’s 73-run victory against New Zealand in the 3rd T20I, cricketer Robin Uthappa stated that India’s youngster had won captain Rohit Sharma’s confidence in the bowling department.

Swashbuckling left-hander Venkatesh Iyer was handed his T20I debut in the first game of the three-match T20I series, which India swept, in Jaipur. At the toss, Rohit Sharma had mentioned that Venkatesh Iyer was brought into the side as an all-rounder.

Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa (Image Credit: Twitter)

Robin Uthappa: Venkatesh Iyer Earned Skipper Rohit Sharma’s Respect

However, lanky pacer Venkatesh Iyer did not bowl a single delivery in the first two games. He finally got a chance in the third, and he made it count by returning with figures of 1/12 in 4 overs. While batting, Venkatesh Iyer was dismissed for 4 on his T20I debut. Promoted to No. 3 in the 2nd T20I, he returned unbeaten on 12 from 11 balls. He managed 20 off 15 balls in his 3rd T20I but was dismissed while trying to hit a maximum.

“The way Venkatesh Iyer bowled will give Rohit a lot more confidence to throw the ball to him in different situations in the future. I think it was a matter of Venkatesh Iyer earning Rohit’s respect as far as his bowling was concerned. With the way he bowled today, he actually did that,” said Robin Uthappa.

Venkatesh Iyer scored 4 off 2 balls during a short stay at the crease on debut. (Getty)
Venkatesh Iyer scored 4 off 2 balls during a short stay at the crease on debut. (Getty)

Venkatesh Iyer was under the microscope after the sectors decided to turn their attention to probable seam-bowling all-rounders who can fill the void left by an unfit and out-of-form Hardik Pandya. However, Venkatesh Iyer played all three matches and could not make an immediate impact with the bat.

On Sunday, in the 3rd T20I, he got off to a good start with 20 off 15 balls but couldn’t capitalize on the good start. With the ball, though, he made a good start. In three overs, he gave away just 12 runs in exchange for a wicket. However, it wasn’t the right situation to assess him as an all-rounder.

A fatigued New Zealand was below-par in both batting and bowling departments and was struggling at the Eden Gardens besides being without regular skipper Kane Williamson and pacer Kyle Jamieson.

Robin Uthappa: Whether Venkatesh Iyer’s Bowling Is Good Enough In Australia In 2022 T20I World Cup Has To Be Reevaluated

He added that it remains to be seen whether he would play a similar role in the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as there is a doubt on whether his bowling is good enough for Australian pitches.

“They have to reevaluate and (find out) if Venkatesh Iyer’s bowling is good enough in a place like Australia. They started that path today by actually giving him a bowl to see what he can do. Whether his all-round prowess can fit into the team moving forward towards that World Cup (remains to be seen),” added Robin Uthappa. 

India's Venkatesh Iyer celebrates the dismissal of New Zealand's Adam Milne during the Third T20 International match between India and New Zealand, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.(ANI)
India’s Venkatesh Iyer celebrates the dismissal of New Zealand’s Adam Milne during the Third T20 International match between India and New Zealand, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday. (ANI)

India beat the Black Caps by 5 wickets in the first game before sealing the series with a seven-wicket win in Ranchi. The two teams will now lock horns in a two-match Test series, which begins in Kanpur on November 25.

Venkatesh Iyer, a sensation in the second leg of the IPL 2021 in the UAE, earned his maiden India call-up. Venkatesh Iyer scored 370 runs in 10 games at an average of 41.11 and a strike rate of 128.47, including four half-centuries. He finished as KKR’s fourth-highest run-scorer.

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Rishabh Pant (Photo Source: Disney+Hotstar VIP)
Rishabh Pant (Photo Source: Disney+Hotstar VIP)
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Daniel Vettori Said Rishabh Pant Hasn’t Got His Temperament Right After His Failure In 3rd T20I

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Daniel Vettori, a former New Zealand captain, feels dashing Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is yet to discover what works best for him in the T20 format. According to Daniel Vettori, Rishabh Pant looked confused with the willow in hand during the New Zealand series.

Rishabh Pant registered scores of 17* and 12* in the first two T20Is before being dismissed for 4 in Sunday’s match in Kolkata. However, his performances with the bat in the T20 format have not been convincing of late.

A dejected Rishabh Pant walks back after being dismissed in the third T20I. Pic: Getty Images
A dejected Rishabh Pant walks back after being dismissed in the third T20I. Pic: Getty Images

Daniel Vettori: Rishabh Pant Hasn’t Got His Temperament Right

Asked what is ailing keeper Rishabh Pant when it comes to his batting in the 20-over format, Daniel Vettori opined during a discussion that he hasn’t got his temperament right as sometimes he is overly cautious. At the same time, some other times, he is reckless.

“He hasn’t got his tempo right in T20 cricket. He hasn’t quite understood his role, particularly in this series. Sometimes he is overly cautious, then he is reckless. It doesn’t feel like there is a flow to his game. When you see great T20 batters batting well, it is all about flow and momentum and you just feel a rhythm to it. He hasn’t quite got that yet,” Daniel Vettori said.

Daniel Vettori is New Zealand’s record wicket-taker.© Twitter
Daniel Vettori is New Zealand’s record wicket-taker.© Twitter

The Kiwi legend added that the Indian management think-tank needs to have a detailed chat with the youngster and explain their expectations as a batter.

Daniel Vettori elaborated: “I will be surprised if they (team management) don’t talk long and hard about what they expect from him. But, the onus is on Pant to find that right tempo.

“The reality is, if he doesn’t, they can look elsewhere. They have Ishan Kishan and KL can keep wickets as well in T20. They will give Pant the opportunity to find his rhythm, knowing that they can change pretty quick as well.”

Before the bilateral T20I series against New Zealand, Rishabh Pant registered scores of 39, 12, and 27* during India’s T20 World Cup 2021 campaign, where they were ousted from the group stage itself after heavy defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand.

Rishabh Pant Deserves A Break After Consistently Playing For 2 Years Non-Stop Feels Robin Uthappa

Indian batter Robin Uthappa has a slightly different take on Rishabh Pant’s inconsistency with the bat. He pointed out that the 24-year-old has been a part of the Indian team across formats over the last two years. Backing the youngster to rediscover his mojo, Robin Uthappa elaborated that he deserves a break as he is suffering from mental fatigue for constantly staying in bio bubbles.

Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa (Image Credit: Twitter)

“Rishabh has been on the road with the Indian team for a couple of years non-stop. He has made himself available to play anything and everything without complaining.

“To be constantly in a bubble saps you. I am certain that also has an implication on the way he performs on the field. Maybe lack of clarity or mental fatigue, it could be just that as well. He is a high-class player and it’s a matter of time before he comes back and hits the ball the way we know he can. I think he deserves a bit of a break to just switch off from cricket.”

Rishabh Pant has been rested for the two-match Test series against New Zealand, which begins in Kanpur on November 25. The likes of Wriddhiman Saha and KS Bharat have been named in place of the left-hander who did wonders in Australia Down Under and England at home.

Rishabh Pant wasn’t able to set the recent T20I series on fire with the bat, as he scored 33 runs (4, 12*, 17*) in the three matches against New Zealand while batting at No. 4 and 5. Rishabh Pant is sometimes accused of throwing his wicket away despite being set often. He has amassed 623 runs in 41 T20Is averaging 23.07 with only 2 fifties with a highest score of 65*.

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Harshal Patel picked up the key wickets of Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips BCCI.
Harshal Patel picked up the key wickets of Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips BCCI.
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Harshal Patel Will Fight For The Death Bowling Spot With Veteran Jasprit Bumrah, Says Robin Uthappa

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Robin Uthappa, the wicket-keeper batsman, praised RCB pacer IPL 2021 purple cap holder Harshal Patel’s performance on his debut for Team India against New Zealand in Ranchi. The seamer claimed figures of 2-25 and was one of the pick of the bowlers in his very first outing.

Robin Uthappa named Harshal Patel on par with Jasprit Bumrah when it came to bowling in the death overs. The seamer was given a specific role by the Royal Challengers Bangalore management as a death-over specialist. He did justice to the role by picking up 32 wickets in the campaign.

Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel (Image Credit: Twitter)

Robin Uthappa: Harshal Patel Will Fight For The Death Bowling Spot With Veteran Jasprit Bumrah; Daniel Vettori: India Will Be More Formidable With The New Duo

The Purple Cap holder in IPL 2021 was not considered for the T20 World Cup 2021. However, he managed to earn a maiden call-up to the national team, with primary seamers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami being rested for the T20I series against New Zealand. An injury to Mohammad Siraj in the first T20I meant that he availed the opportunity to feature in blue.

Robin Uthappa said: “If you would consider just a death bowling spot, then Harshal Patel is right up there for me along with Bumrah. The kind of skills he possesses and the way he is executing those skills, not just possession of skills but the way you execute those skills also matter, especially under pressure. Incredible how he came back in his last over, that just shows he’s got the stuff.”

Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa (Image Credit: Twitter)

Daniel Vettori claimed that if a death bowling duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel can be forged, then it could make Team India even more formidable. He believes this option will help the team plan out their bowling strategy over the course of the innings. Moreover, it will make things a lot easier with clear roles being assigned.

Vettori said: “The ability to set up your back overs is so important in T20 Cricket. If Harshal Patel has the skillset and we obviously know that Bumrah does, so that brings a whole new dynamic to how you map out your 20 overs. Bowlers can be more attacking in the powerplay because they know you have those overs locked away at the back end.”

He added: “There are very few bowlers who can do that, and if India have two of them in Bumrah and Harshal Patel that sets them up for being a formidable team.”

Harshal Patel’s spell helped India restrict New Zealand to 153-6. The Blackcaps were looking to score in excess of 180, based on the start they got, courtesy of their openers. However, the RCB seamer’s overs in the death bowlers played a vital hand and did not allow New Zealand to accelerate.

Robin Uthappa Concerned With Harshal Payel’s Tendency To Bowl Waist High No Balls

Robin Uthappa felt that Harshal Patel’s tendency to bowl waist-high no-balls was a slight concern and urged the pacer to work on it. However, Robin Uthappa added that such a delivery could prove costly in a high-pressure encounter. With Dew being a prominent presence right from the word go in Ranchi, Harshal Patel bowled a waist-high no-ball. But he made amends with a strong comeback on the resulting free hit.

“The waist-high no balls have been something we have noticed with him over the last 12 months or so and it is something he would want to work on and improve. Because in high-pressure games you don’t want to give away a ball like that.” Uthappa explained.

Ravindra Jadeja, CSK
Ravindra Jadeja. Image Credits: Twitter

Harshal Patel had bowled a waist-high no-ball in his infamous final over against CSK in the first leg of the IPL as well. The over eventually resulted in 37 runs, with Ravindra Jadeja scripting his name in history.

Harshal Patel can bowl from close to the stumps or wide of the crease, over and around the wicket. In his game-turning 4-0-25-2 in the second T20I against New Zealand, each of his two wickets was ratified only after the umpires checked for a back-foot no-ball – so wide of the crease was Harshal Patel going. Both times, he was completely safe.

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Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa (Image Credit: Twitter)
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Robin Uthappa Surprised That Rohit Sharma Hasn’t Tried Venkatesh Iyer As Bowler In First 2 T20Is

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Robin Uthappa has stated he is a bit surprised that newly-appointed skipper Rohit Sharma hasn’t tried out Venkatesh Iyer as a bowling option in the first two T20Is against New Zealand. However, he added that it is too early to form an opinion of Rohit Sharma’s captaincy as he has just begun his journey as a full-time leader in international cricket.

Venkatesh Iyer was brought in as a replacement for all-rounder Hardik Pandya, whose fitness woes hurt Team India’s T20 World Cup 2021 campaign. But the 26-year-old hasn’t bowled in the T20I series against New Zealand.

Team India’s new entrant Venkatesh Iyer. Pic: Getty Images
Team India’s new entrant Venkatesh Iyer. Pic: Getty Images

Robin Uthappa: Rohit Sharma Isn’t Thinking Of 6th Bowling Option

Robin Uthappa analyzed the decision following India’s seven-wicket triumph over the Kiwis in the second T20I in Ranchi. Robin Uthappa, who plays for CSK in IPL,  said that Rohit Sharma is perhaps thinking on the lines that he doesn’t need a sixth bowling option as of now.

Robin Uthappa elaborated: “It is a bit mysterious as to why Venkatesh Iyer isn’t bowling or isn’t being tried as the sixth bowler. Maybe Rohit feels he doesn’t need a sixth bowler and Venkatesh Iyer is playing purely as a batter.”

Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa (Image Credit: Twitter)

Robin Uthappa further pointed out that Rohit Sharma’s mindset as captain is something that will get clearer the more he leads the Indian team.

The 36-year-old explained: “We are very early into this understanding of who Rohit is as a captain. As time passes, we will get a better understanding of what he wants to achieve and want kind of a captain he is. We need to give these guys (Rohit and Rahul Dravid) a little bit of time to understand what their mindset is and how they are looking at taking things forward.”

Venkatesh Iyer was dismissed for 4 on his T20I debut. Promoted to No. 3 in Friday’s game, he returned unbeaten on 12 from 11 balls. Venkatesh Iyer, a sensation in the second leg of the IPL 2021 in the UAE, earned his maiden India call-up. Venkatesh Iyer scored 370 runs in 10 games at an average of 41.11 and a strike rate of 128.47, including four half-centuries. He finished as KKR’s fourth-highest run-scorer.

Daniel Vettori: Ravichandran Ashwin Is Going To Be Part Of T20I Team Going Forward

Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori backed Robin Uthappa over Rohit Sharma’s decision to not give the ball to Venkatesh Iyer. According to him, Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid perhaps don’t want to experiment just for the sake of it.

Daniel Vettori stated: “This is about Rohit’s captaincy rather than the playing XI and finding the style that he wants to play. Rahul and Rohit don’t want to bowl Venkatesh Iyer because it might just be at a crucial time and he might go for 20 runs. They don’t want to put themselves in a position just for the sake of seeing a bowler.”

Ravichandran Ashwin of India. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Ravichandran Ashwin of India. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Reviewing India’s performance, he added that Ravichandran Ashwin’s success on his comeback to the T20 squad has made life tougher for Yuzvendra Chahal. After being overlooked for the first two games, both of which India lost in the T20I World Cup, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was finally brought into the playing XI after a hiatus of 4 years in T20Is and was the standout spinner for Team India in the three matches he played in the Super 12 stage.

Daniel Vettori said: “What they (India) have found out is that Ashwin is going to be part of the T20 team going forward. With Ashwin bowling so well, it probably pushes Chahal to the background a little bit.”

Chasing 154, India cantered to victory in 17.2 overs, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. MOM debutant pacer Harshal Patel conceded just 25 in his four overs and took the wickets of Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, both caught in the deep.

The spin prodigy Ravichandran Ashwin was impressive in the UAE during the recently-concluded T20I World Cup, In the three outings, he scalped six wickets and maintained an economy of 5.25. The 35-year old made similar noteworthy outings in the opening two games against NZ, where he returned with figures 4-0-23-2 and 4-0-19-1.

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Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav
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Robin Uthappa Feels Suryakumar Yadav Can Bat At No. 4 Or No. 5 And Support Rishabh Pant

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Robin Uthappa feels that versatile Suryakumar Yadav can bat at the No. 4 or No. 5 position and support Rishabh Pant in finishing the innings. According to Robin Uthappa, Suryakumar Yadav’s versatility is his biggest asset as he can bat anywhere, according to the former opener.

Suryakumar Yadav batted at the No. 3 spot in the first T20I of the three-match series against New Zealand in Jaipur on Wednesday. The 31-year-old middle-order batsman was the Player of the Match for his 40-ball 62 as India went 1-0 up with a five-wicket triumph against the visitors.

Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa (Image Credit: Twitter)

Robin Uthappa: Versatile Suryakumar Yadav Can Move Up And Down The Batting Order If Needed

Despite Suryakumar Yadav’s success at the one-down position, Robin Uthappa believes he will be more useful to India at four or five positions once Virat Kohli, who is resting in the T20I series, is back on the T20I side.

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter explained: “The guy brings in a sense of versatility. He can move up and down the batting order. Surya gets in there and gets going. The array of shots that he has got makes him a dangerous batter at any position. He can bat at 4-5 so that Pant has got some support to finish games.”

Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav (BCCI)

At a post-match interaction following India’s win over New Zealand in the first T20I, Suryakumar Yadav himself stated that he doesn’t have any preferred position and is willing to bat anywhere for the team. The right-hander’s half-century saw India chase down a target of 165 with two balls to spare. Following Suryakumar Yadav’s dismissal, Rishabh Pant (17*) guided the team to victory.

Daniel Vettori: Suryakumar Yadav Has Set Himself Aside From The Rest

Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori echoed Robin Uthappa’s sentiments on Suryakumar Yadav. According to the Kiwi great, the 31-year-old has made his opportunities count and should feature in the Indian T20I squad on a consistent basis.

Daniel Vettori opined: “With the kind of performances he has come up with, Suryakumar has set himself aside from the rest of the pack. He could be the guy to bat 4-5 to complement the Top 3. He is confident from the time he goes out to bat and it just suits T20 cricket.”

Daniel Vettori is New Zealand’s record wicket-taker.© Twitter
Daniel Vettori is New Zealand’s record wicket-taker.© Twitter

In nine T20Is, Suryakumar Yadav has scored 243 runs at a strike rate of 160.92 with three half-centuries. He averages 48.6 in T20Is and 62 in 3 ODIs, where he has 124 runs.

In the last three IPL seasons, he has been brilliant with the bat. In the 2018 edition of the tournament, he scored 512 runs in 14 games, a commendable effort for someone who plays as a middle-order batsman. In 2019 and 2020, he played a crucial part in Mumbai Indians’ (MI) victorious runs.  While he amassed 424 runs in IPL 2019, he upped his game in IPL 2020.

The Mumbaikar scored 480 runs in 16 games averaging 40 at an impressive strike rate of 145 in IPL 2020, which was hailed by fans who felt disappointed when his name wasn’t in the Australian tour’s limited-overs squad. He amassed 317 runs in 14 games, averaging 22.64 in IPL 2021 as his team, Mumbai Indians, failed to qualify.

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Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Image Credit: Twitter)
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Ravindra Jadeja And Ruturaj Gaikwad To Be Retained By CSK For IPL 2022: Reports

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Chennai Super Kings, the IPL 2021 winning team, lined up for the customary photo-op in Dubai on Friday. Not only the players and support staff, the families of all the players, including the reserves, were called up as Chennai Super Kings celebrated at the end of a long journey or just the beginning considering IPL 2022 mega auctions may see the team composition changing drastically.

Chennai Super Kings Captain MS Dhoni said after their win over KKR in the IPL 2021 final, they would look to build a core that would last them for the next 10 years. So the team may seem to forego their ‘old is gold’ theory and build a side around youth. But that’s not the case as Chennai Super Kings may retain experienced cricketers ahead of IPL 2022 auctions and target others who did well for them.

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

Chennai Super Kings’ Ravindra Jadeja And Ruturaj Gaikwad Will Be Retained For IPL 2022, MS Dhoni Is The Third Option While Several Senior Pros Will Be Targeted At Auctions:  Source

One understands that in the numerous discussions that MS Dhoni had with his team about the next auctions during the course of the IPL, it was decided that Chennai Super Kings would try to retain some of their seniors – even if it is from the auctions — who have performed so brilliantly for a decade. Hence, orange Cap holder Ruturaj Gaikwad and spinner Ravindra Jadeja are almost certain to be retained.

“Ravindra Jadeja and Ruturaj Gaikwad are the two players who will be retained, come what may…Dhoni is seriously looking at the retention rules and if it is three players, he could be the third. But players like Ambati Rayudu, Faf du Plessis, or even the 38-year-old Dwayne Bravo will be targeted by CSK, along with the likes of Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar,” a source close to the developments told TOI.

Ravindra Jadeja With MS Dhoni CSK Twitter Handle
Ravindra Jadeja With MS Dhoni CSK Twitter Handle

MS Dhoni, himself, had left it ambiguous at the prize distribution ceremony, saying he “hadn’t left yet” when the host spoke about his legacy. Among others, while 37-year-old Faf du Plessis played a number of crucial match-winning knocks, including the final on Friday, while the likes of Moeen Ali, Dwayne Bravo, and Ambati Rayudu played crucial hands along the course of the tournament.

In the IPL 2021, the likes of CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (635 runs) and Faf du Plessis (633 runs) finished as leading run-getters in IPL 2021. Moeen Ali (357 runs), Ambati Rayudu (257 runs) also delivered in crunch situations. Dwayne Bravo (14), Deepak Chahar(14), Ravindra Jadeja (13), Josh Hazlewood(11), and Shardul Thakur(21) were amongst the wickets.

MS Dhoni Said That If It Was Not CSK, Many Reserve Players Couldh’ve Walked Into The Franchise

When CSK was returning to the IPL fold in 2018 after a two-year ban for alleged match-fixing, MS Dhoni went against popular opinion and decided to bank on seniors who had “been there, done that”. As a result, in the next 4 years including 2018, CSK won twice(2018, 2021) and came close to winning another, losing by 1 run in 2019 to MI.

“We don’t get too deep into analytics and numbers, we go with gut feel and developing relationships with players. It’s old school but it works for us,” coach Stephen Fleming said.

While sticking with experience was the cornerstone of CSK’s success, the feeling of family within the group also played its part. Robin Uthappa, who played the last four matches, mentioned that the management takes care of the players, even those who are not necessarily part of the playing XI, right through the year.

Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina (Image Credit: Twitter)

MS Dhoni, too, in his vote of thanks to the team after the match, spoke about the importance of the players who were not in the playing XI.

“Dhoni said that had it been any other franchise, there are quite a few players in the CSK reserves who would have walked into the XI,” a source said.

The only superstar whose Chennai Super Kings career might be over is Suresh Raina. The left-handed batsman’s form has taken a nose-dive, and his fitness, too, has been a cause of concern. However, with two new teams coming up in IPL 2022, it may not be a surprise if the left-hander finally lands in one of those, provided he wants to keep on playing.

In IPL 2021 final, put in to bat, Chennai Super Kings amassed 192-3 with opener Faf du Plessis anchoring their innings with 86 off 59 balls. Ruturaj Gaikwad made 32, while Robin Uthappa (31) and Moeen Ali (37 not out) chipped in with useful cameos. Kolkata, led by Eoin Morgan, got off to a flying start with a 91-run stand between openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer before the middle order failed again as KKR finished on 165-9.

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Stephen Fleming Image Source: IPLT20.COM
Stephen Fleming Image Source: IPLT20.COM
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Stephen Fleming Becomes Most Successful IPL Coach By Winning 4th IPL Title

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Stephen Fleming on Friday became the most successful coach in the Indian Premier League after Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs to win their fourth title in Dubai. Stephen Fleming, who has been CSK coach since 2009, surpassed Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene with his fourth title – 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021.

Stephen Fleming is the most successful coach of IPL. Under his guidance CSK won 4 IPL Title ( 2010,2011,2018, 2021) and one CLT20 (2010).

Stephen Fleming also won the battle of the Kiwi coaches as his CSK outclassed Brendon McCullum's KKR.
Stephen Fleming also won the battle of the Kiwi coaches as his CSK outclassed Brendon McCullum’s KKR. (Courtesy of BCCI).

Stephen Fleming Wins 4th IPL Title As Coach Surpassing MI’s Mahela Jayawardene Who Has 3 Titles

On the other hand, MI coach Mahela Jayawardene has won 3 trophies with MI in 2017, 2019, and 2020. Stephen Fleming also won the battle of the Kiwi coaches as his CSK outclassed Brendon McCullum’s KKR for the third successive time in IPL 2021.

“We have had a number of finals, but crossing the line is what you want to conquer. There has been a bit of criticism about the age of players on our side, but the players have stepped up. We value youth, but experience is very important. We don’t go too deep into the numbers, analytics, but are a team more on instincts. Yes we are a bit old school in that sense but it works for us in this group,” Fleming said after the match.

Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene (Photo| Mumbai Indians website)
Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene (Photo| Mumbai Indians website)

The four-time champions’ 2020 campaign was disastrous as they could not reach the playoffs for the first time in IPL history. They finished seventh in the rankings, and MS Dhoni’s captaincy reign came under question. But they turned it around in IPL 2021 in style, finishing as winners lifting the elusive trophy for the 4th time.

In the IPL 2021, the likes of CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (635 runs) and Faf du Plessis (633 runs) finished as leading run-getters in IPL 2021. Moeen Ali (357 runs), Ambati Rayudu (257 runs) also delivered in crunch situations. Dwayne Bravo (14), Deepak Chahar(14), Ravindra Jadeja(13), Josh Hazlewood(11), and Shardul Thakur(21) were amongst the wickets.

Faf du Plessis Anchored Chennai’s Innings With 86 Off 59 Balls In IPL 2021 Finals

Put into bat, Chennai amassed 192-3 with opener Faf du Plessis anchoring their innings with 86 off 59 balls. Ruturaj Gaikwad made 32, while Robin Uthappa (31) and Moeen Ali (37 not out) chipped in with useful cameos. Kolkata, led by England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan, got off to a flying start with a 91-run stand between openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer before wheels came off their innings finished on 165-9.

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

Eoin Morgan made four runs, and only four Kolkata batsmen managed double-digit scores. Shardul Thakur returned 3-38, while Ravindra Jadeja claimed 2-37 and took two stunning catches to hurt Kolkata. It was a dream comeback for the Men in Yellow as CSK, who missed out on the play-offs berth for the first time in the history of the tournament in 2020, romped to the title in 2021, making a statement once again.

MS Dhoni’s men came up with a nearly spotless campaign as they qualified for the play-offs ahead of the chasing pack and asserted their dominance in the knockout stages before eventually winning IPL 2021.

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Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa (Image Credit: Twitter)
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Robin Uthappa Grateful To Be Part Of IPL 2021 Winning Side Chennai Super Kings

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Robin Uthappa, Chennai Super Kings batsman, said that he is extremely grateful to be a part of the winning side-Chennai Super Kings. The MS Dhoni-led CSK won their fourth IPL title as they beat Kolkata Knight Riders in the final on Friday.

After Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won their fourth IPL trophy, star batsman Robin Uthappa said that he is extremely grateful and feels amazing to be part of MS Dhoni-led side, especially how last year went for them.

Robin Uthappa scored a brisk 15-ball 31 in the IPL 2021 Final against Kolkata Knight Riders | Photo Credit: PTI
Robin Uthappa scored a brisk 15-ball 31 in the IPL 2021 Final against Kolkata Knight Riders | Photo Credit: PTI

Robin Uthappa Felt Amazing To Be Part Of IPL 2021 Winning Team Chennai Super Kings

CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs in the IPL 2021 final and lifted their fourth IPL title. CSK had earlier won three IPL titles in 2010, 2011, and 2018.

“Extremely grateful, it feels amazing to be part of this side, especially how last year went for us. It was a very lean season for us last year and so it was important for us to come back and play as well as we could and be really grateful that we have been able to,” said Robin Uthappa after the win.

Chennai Super Kings beat the Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs to claim their fourth IPL title. SportzPics
Chennai Super Kings beat the Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs to claim their fourth IPL title. SportzPics

The consistently proven match-winner, Robin Uthappa, was traded to Chennai Super Kings by the Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2021 Player Auction. He had joined the Royals ahead of the 2020 season and played 12 games for them. Earlier, he was one of KKR’s star-turns in the title-winning efforts in 2012 and 2014.

Robin Uthappa Wanted To Contribute To CSK’s Success

Robin Uthappa played only 4 games in IPL 2021 for CSK but managed to amass 115 runs averaging 28.75 besides a fifty. His 63 came against Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 1 while he hit a quickfire 15 ball 31 in the final.

“I just want to come in and contribute to the team’s success,” he added.

Talking about the environment in the CSK group, the stylish batsman said that there is a lot of clarity.

“They create a very secure environment within the group and there’s a lot of clarity and communication within the support staff and the players and that really helps in building a secure group,” said Robin Uthappa, who performed well with the bat for CSK in the last two matches.

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

“I believe it’s your players who are not playing in the eleven that really create the atmosphere within the group and they make sure that they look after the players who are not playing in the eleven and I think that’s one of the biggest takeaways of our success in IPL,” he added.

Notably, Faf du Plessis finished with 633 runs in IPL 2021, just 2 short of Ruturaj Gaikwad’s tally of 635, which helped him become the youngest Orange Cap winner. CSK, who posted 192/3 on the board in the IPL 2021 final on the back of Faf du Plessis’ brilliant 86, restricted KKR to 165/9 and sealed a 27-run win.

KKR’s openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer scored the much-needed 50s, but after they were dismissed, the middle-order was exposed, and KKR’s batsmen fell without much resistance.

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Chennai Super Kings (Image Credit: Twitter)
Chennai Super Kings (Image Credit: Twitter)
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It’s A Challenge For Aging Side CSK To Maintain Standards: Stephen Fleming

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Stephen Fleming, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach, poured praise down on his side CSK for maintaining consistency despite highly contrasting beliefs. Stephen Fleming was a proud man after the yellow brigade clinched their fourth IPL title by beating Kolkata Knight Riders in Dubai on Friday 15th October in IPL 2021 final.

While CSK had one of the most experienced squads, their abilities came under scrutiny due to their high age factor. 40-year-old skipper MS Dhoni himself has seen his powers wane since IPL 2020 as he failed to average more than 25 in the last two seasons while 34-year-old Suresh Raina has looked vulnerable and was dropped for the last few games of IPL 2021. However, they defied everything by turning the tables to beat Kolkata by 27 runs in the decider.

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

Stephen Fleming Pleased With CSK Winning 4th IPL Trophy

Stephen Fleming hailed the CSK squad as “special” and recognized the hard work put in by them while speaking at a post-match press conference, Stephen Fleming was aware of the “dad’s army” tag and the lack of expectations from them to do as well as they did. He was pleased with the aging side’s accomplishments and deemed them special.

“It’s very hard to reign them and I also think they’re special as they work hard and the results are because of the hard work. I think the win in 2018, coming back was very emotional. There is a lot of hard work in this one and we were called the dad’s army in the first year and I don’t think a lot of people had any hopes for us to maintain the competitiveness during this cycle and another year added, so we were pretty much written off.”

Stephen Fleming and MS Dhoni (Photo Source: Twitter)
Stephen Fleming and MS Dhoni (Photo Source: Twitter)

“So, there is little bit of jubilation around there and a lot of pride what the players have been able to achieve and maintain the standards over a number of months. It’s a challenge for the aging side. I’m really proud of what they did, the way they played and it was very special, trust me.”

The likes of Imran Tahir(42 years), MS Dhoni (40 years), Dwayne Bravo(38 years), Faf du Plessis (37 years), Ambati Rayudu (36 years), Robin Uthappa (35 years), Suresh Raina, and Moeen Ali (34 years) are in their fag end of careers and some of them have even quit international cricket.
The four-time champions’ 2020 campaign was disastrous as they could not reach the playoffs for the first time in IPL history. They finished seventh in the rankings and MS Dhoni’s captaincy reign came under question.
CSK, who posted 192/3 on the board in the IPL 2021 final on the back of Faf du Plessis’ brilliant 86, restricted KKR to 165/9 and sealed a 27-run win. KKR’s openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer scored the 50s but after they were dismissed, middle-order was exposed.

Stephen Fleming Feels It’s Too Early To Comment On CSK’s Team Combinations In IPL 2022 Mega Auctions

Stephen Fleming admitted that there were some emotions during the final IPL 2021 match when he was asked whether this might be the ‘end of an era’. The 48-year-old highlighted the Chennai Super Kings’ system of developing players and feels it’s quite early to comment on the make-up of the squad before the IPL 2022 mega auctions.

Stephen Fleming added: “Well, maybe. I don’t know and there were emotions around. It might be an end of an era as you might not get some players back. There is some emotion around this last game, so when you win it, it’s a celebration but also a recognition of what the players have put in.”

Stephen Fleming Image Source : IPLT20.COM
Stephen Fleming Image Source : IPLT20.COM

“Chennai has always had a system or a belief that if you can maintain players, keep them with you for a long time, you can get the best out of them. And yes, there are players who have been with us for a long time. It’ll be interesting to see over the next few months how it pans out. Most teams are probably going to go for a change and we could be one. But how that looks like it’s too early to tell.”

The mega auction before the 15th edition of the IPL allows the franchises to retain only two Indian players. With MS Dhoni likely to play next season, CSK’s probability of retaining him is high.
Brief Scores: Chennai Super Kings 192/3 (Faf du Plessis 86, Moeen Ali 37*; Sunil Narine 2/26) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 165/9 (Shubman Gill 51, Venkatesh Iyer 50; Shardul Thakur 3/38) by 27 runs.

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