Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants: Match Report

After a 4 year hiatus, CSK finally returned to Chepauk to face the Super Giants who had come off an emphatic 50-run victory over the Capitals. On the other hand, Chennai did not get off to a dream start as they lost to the Titans by 5 wickets. LSG won the toss and put the Super Kings into bat. After a dog chase on the field, the teams were ready to go.

Gaikwad and Conway Smash the Powerplay

After his 92 (50) against the Titans in their season opener, Gaikwad picked up where he left off with a destructive 57 off just 31 balls. He picked apart Gowtham, hitting him over the rope 3 times in one over. His destructive form doesn't look like stopping and the coaching staff will not mind his soft dismissal as his intent has been clear.

Conway had a polar opposite first inning to Gaikwad, scoring just one run. However, he started this inning with a few booming drives against Avesh Khan, before demolishing the Purple Cap holder, Mark Wood. These 2 powered Chennai to their highest-ever Powerplay score at Chepauk of 79–0.

Another Middle-Order Failure

Following a blistering opening partnership of 110 (56), the wheels once again came off in the middle order as only one partnership passed the 30-run mark after that (Moeen and Dube).

After his horrible first game, Dube somehow earned a promotion to number 3. He was 5 off 10 before taking a liking to Bishnoi and Thakur which pushed him to 27 (15) before being dismissed. Moeen never really got going apart from a hat trick of boundaries off Avesh Khan before becoming Bishnoi’s 3rd victim of the night. Stokes and Jadeja are having seasons to forget with the bat so far as they combined for 11 runs.

Dhoni Rolls Back The Years

Dhoni showed glimpses of his old self as he hit 14* against the Titans’ last match. Against the Giants, he walked out, again with the Kings in trouble, and smacked 12 off 3 balls. This included a six off his first ball carved over third man which he followed up with a world-class pull shot. His 12 runs were the exact difference between the two teams in the end, once again showing his immense cricketing brain.

It was all about the veterans as Ambati Rayudu stood head and shoulders above the rest of the middle order with a quick 27 to boost the Kings to 217.

Pace Problems Persist for the Kings

Chennai has conceded 145 runs combined in their last 2 powerplays whilst only taking 2 wickets. Chahar has swung the ball but his line and length have been all over the place. That was exposed today at Chepauk as Kyle Mayers punished him to the boundary 5 times. He seems to refuse to bowl to his field sometimes, even with the short boundary of Chepauk.

Deshpande bowled an 11-ball over in the powerplay which went for 18 runs. Despite his wickets of Badoni and Pooran later on, I would still look to replace him as his economy rate of 13.09 is unacceptable. Stokes’ return to bowling should be a positive for Chennai but he has not looked 100% with bat or ball, conceding 18 off his sole over.

Spinners Turn the Game in CSK’s Favour

Chennai had all but lost the match after the powerplay but Moeen and Santner combined to take 3 wickets in 12 balls whilst conceding only 3 runs in that period. The Chennai ground will suit Moeen, Santner, Jadeja, but most excitingly, Theekshana. Surprisingly, Jadeja only bowled 1 over instead of Dhoni going for the kill as soon as he smelled blood.

What’s Next for CSK?

Chennai comes up against rivals Mumbai next and should have their full roster (apart from Theekshana). With the addition of Magala, should CSK look to the South African to fix their fast-bowling woes?

If Magala were to come in, it would have to be for Santner, who has solidified his spot in the squad for the next game with his performance today. Even if he were to be replaced, it could only be for one game as, for me, Theekshana has to play when he’s available. CSK should maybe look within their Indian contingent for the replacement, as they did with Mukesh last year.

My XI for the Mumbai game would be:

1. Conway
2. Gaikwad
3. Ali
4. Stokes
5. Rayudu
6. Dhoni
7. Dube
8. Jadeja
9. Santner
10. Chahar
11. Hangargekar
12. Simarjeet Singh (comes in for Rayudu as Impact Player)

Simarjeet gets a bit more swing than Deshpande so could be used at the top alongside Chahar. Apart from that, unchanged. Dube just about holds onto his spot with Rahane and Mandal breathing down his neck for his spot in the team.

Player Ratings

CSK

1. Gaikwad 8/10-another excellent start, needs to convert to a big score.
2. Conway 7/10-great comeback.
3. Dube 5/10-slowed the innings down again but started to make up for it. Bad dropped catch.
4. Ali 9/10-his 4 wickets turned the game for CSK. Has to bowl more often.
5. Stokes 3/10-another bad outing but was great in the field.
6. Rayudu 6/10-kept going whilst wickets fell around him.
7. Jadeja 2/10-another disappointment.
8. Dhoni 6/10-gave an extra kick at the end, kept well, and smart use of his bowlers.
9. Santner 7/10-economical spell brought Lucknow’s momentum to a halt.
10. Chahar 1/10-probably his worst day in a CSK top but deserved a wicket at the end.
11. Hangagekar 4/10-confident but expensive two overs. Bowled well at the death again.
12. Deshpande 5/10-big wicket of Pooran but has got to get more consistent.

LSG

1. Rahul 3/10-slow at the top then threw his wicket away. Captaincy might not be for him.
2. Mayers 8/10-ferocious knock and tidy with the ball. Making it difficult to drop him for De Kock.
3. Hooda 2/10–did not impact the game at all.
4. K. Pandya 4/10-needs a big performance soon.
5. Stoinis 4/10-boring innings. Will most likely be dropped for De Kock.
6. Pooran 6/10-gave them hope at the end. Sloppy with the gloves.
7. Badoni 4/10-came in to hit boundaries but failed to do so once in 18 balls.
8. Gowtham 3/10-some impressive striking but his bowling hasn’t improved in a long time.
9. Wood 5/10-expensive for his 3 wickets. Successful audition at the end to bat higher up the order.
10. Thakur 4/10–most mature/smart pace bowler for LSG on his debut. A touch too expensive.
11. Bishnoi 7/10–3 big wickets brought them back into the game.
12. A. Khan-3/10-way too expensive but took the wicket of Stokes.