Cricket

Hardik Pandya’s vice-captaincy appointment for T20 WC challenged by Irfan Pathan: ‘Bumrah wouldn’t have been bad choice’ | Crickit

Danijones7 months ago07 mins

Hardik Pandya’s tale of woe is well documented in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League. From breaking the hearts of Gujarat Titans fans to upsetting Rohit Sharma faithful by taking over the captaincy reigns, Pandya has been facing the wrath of jeering fans in the IPL 2024. Becoming a staunch critic of Hardik, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan recently took aim at selectors for prioritising the selection of the MI skipper. Pathan has questioned the appointment of India’s new vice-captain for T20 World Cup (AFP-PTI) Launching a fresh attack on Hardik following his return to the Indian side for the T20 World Cup, Pathan questioned the appointment of the new vice-captain. Even though Hardik has struggled to revive MI’s campaign in the IPL 2024, the star all-rounder was picked as Rohit’s deputy for the T20 World Cup. Hardik was also the vice-captain of the Indian team at the 2023 World Cup. However, an ankle injury cut short his campaign in the ICC event last year. HT launches Crick-it, a one stop destination to catch Cricket, anytime, anywhere. Explore now! ‘Hardik held the captaincy but Rohit…’ “Previously, Hardik Pandya held the captaincy, but Rohit Sharma took over for T20 matches. Post T20 World Cup, there was a new plan; they aimed for a younger team with Pandya and Surya as potential captains. Yet, questions arise regarding Pandya’s performance consistency and commitment to Indian cricket. Regular participation in domestic cricket is essential for serving Indian cricket throughout the year. Injuries are inevitable, but proper planning involving consistent match play, including domestic cricket, is vital for a player’s return. But then there’s this one player who returns from injury without fulfilling the same requirements,” Pathan told Star Sports. Hardik escaped ‘Kishan-Iyer’ treatment In the lead-up to the IPL 2024, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan didn’t receive contract extensions for ignoring BCCI’s directive to play in the Ranji Trophy. Pathan had then claimed that Hardik was not judged using the same parameters. All-rounder Hardik was drafted in the Grade A category when the BCCI revealed its annual central contracts list. After recovering from an ankle injury in the build-up to IPL 2024, Hardik made his return to competitive cricket in the DY Patil tournament. ‘Whether you’re Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli…’ “That shouldn’t happen because it sends the wrong message to the rest of the team. When they see one player receiving special treatment, it disrupts the team environment. Cricket isn’t like tennis; it’s a team sport where equality is vital. Every player should be treated fairly and equally. Regardless of whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned player like Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, cricket is a team sport first and foremost. I’ve witnessed things in the past, particularly during the T20 World Cup last year, that went against the principles of Indian cricket—instances where certain players were given undue advantage, which is unacceptable,” the former India all-rounder added. Hardik’s flop show in IPL 2024 With Hardik succeeding Rohit at MI for IPL 2024, the five-time winners made an awful start to the new season by losing their first three games. Hardik’s MI side is placed ninth in the IPL with six points in 10 matches. Despite flopping with the bat and ball in the IPL 2024, Hardik was added to the Indian side for the T20 World Cup. Instead of appointing Hardik as vice-captain, Irfan argued that the national selectors should have picked pace ace Jasprit Bumrah as Rohit’s deputy for the ICC event. ‘Bumrah wouldn’t have been a bad choice either’ “To succeed in tournaments like the World Cup, it’s imperative that every player is treated fairly and equally. So, now, coming back to your question about Hardik Pandya being vice-captain, I understand the rationale behind it due to the importance of continuity in leadership. However, considering the current performance, the selectors opting for continuity may be understandable. Yet, I believe someone like Bumrah wouldn’t have been a bad choice either,” Pathan concluded.

MS Dhoni: ‘You can go out and express…’: Gautam Gambhir praises CSK’s strategy empowering MS Dhoni’s impact in IPL 2024 | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer and current Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir lauded the strategic brilliance of Chennai Super Kings in harnessing the unparalleled prowess of MS Dhoni in the Indian Premier League 2024. Gambhir emphasized that CSK’s tactical approach, particularly in assigning Dhoni the finisher’s role with just 8-10 balls, has unleashed the legendary cricketer’s potential to make an immediate impact on the game.“It is a strategy of CSK (Dhoni facing just 8-10 balls) and that has given Dhoni the freedom. Different teams have different strategies and CSK has done this for the past 2-3 years. The freedom has allowed Dhoni to have an impact. When you play 20-25 balls you have that responsibility to consolidate, but when it’s just 8-10 balls you can go out there and express yourself with freedom,” expressed Gambhir in an interaction with Sportskeeda.Highlighting Dhoni’s phenomenal performance in the ongoing IPL season, Gambhir underscored the leadership similarities between Dhoni and himself during their IPL rivalry. “I feel insecurity is the biggest reason for a player’s failure. It’s not about ability. If you don’t have the ability you won’t reach the first-class, IPL, or international level in the first place. So it is important to have a secure dressing room. A secure dressing room is a happy dressing room and it eventually becomes a winning dressing room,” Gambhir remarked, reflecting on the conducive environment for players’ success. Dhoni’s batting prowess in the IPL 2024 has been nothing short of remarkable, with the veteran cricketer showcasing his unmatched skills as a finisher. Dhoni stands on the cusp of reaching a significant milestone of 250 sixes in the IPL. With a staggering strike rate of 229.16 in ten games, Dhoni’s impact on CSK’s fortunes has been undeniable.Despite a minor setback against Punjab Kings, where Dhoni (14 off 11) was run out off the final ball of the innings – his first dismissal in the season, his significance in guiding CSK through tense situations remains undiminished.

India eye unassailable lead in third women’s T20I against Bangladesh

Danijones7 months ago03 mins

A dominant India will have sights set on an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series when they take on a hosts Bangladesh in the third women’s T20 International here on Thursday. Having done exceedingly well to not just to turn up but trump their opponents on all fronts in the preceding two matches, India will enter the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium with aim to follow the same script. The bowling unit has been functioning cohesively, having restricted Bangladesh to modest totals with spinners Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, and Shreyanka Patil being economical. In the pace department, Renuka Singh Thakur has starred with the ball in the opener while Pooja Vastrakar has also been handy. Dayalan Hemalatha, making her return to international cricket after an absence of nearly 17 months, displayed her explosive batting during the powerplay in the last game, crafting an unbeaten 24-ball 41. The likes of Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Richa Ghosh have got runs under their belt. However, star opener Smriti Mandhana would hope to find form. India have relied on a collective team effort throughout this series and they will be seeking more of the same in the remaining games. The series assumes more importance as the T20 World Cup is to be held in Bangladesh later this year. The hosts, on the other hand, will seek improvement in all three fronts. Their batters have not been able to get big totals, while the bowlers also haven’t enjoyed good outing and the fielding has also been found wanting. Squads: India: Smriti Mandhana, Dayalan Hemalatha, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, S Sajana, Shafali Verma, Shreyanka Patil, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, Asha Sobhana, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh, Radha Yadav, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Saika Ishaque. Bangladesh: Murshida Khatun, Rubya Haider, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Shorifa Khatun, Nigar Sultana (c&wk), Dilara Akter, Nahida Akter, Sultana Khatun, Ritu Moni, Rabeya Khan, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Fariha Trisna, Habiba Islam. Match starts 3:30pm IST.

Mayank getting injured in first game on comeback has to directly be on LSG leadership: Lee

Danijones7 months ago06 mins

Mayank Yadav of Lucknow Super Giants. | Photo Credit: SANDEEP SAXENA Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee feels Lucknow Super Giants did not manage Mayank Yadav’s injury well, suggesting that the young tearaway pacer was brought back to IPL action prematurely after being sidelined due to abdominal soreness. The 21-year-old Mayank developed abdominal soreness during LSG’s match against Gujarat Titans on April 7. That was his third IPL game, and he impressed one and all with his express pace and two Man-of-the-Match awards. He made a comeback in LSG’s win against Mumbai Indians in Lucknow on Tuesday but walked off the field without completing his fourth over after an injury scare. LSG coach Justin Langer said the young pace sensation is feeling “sore in the same spot” that kept him out of action for almost three weeks, while captain KL Rahul that added Mayank had complained of slight pain in his sides. Lee, one of the game’s most feared fast bowlers, laid the blame on the LSG top management and medical staff. He said Mayank’s initial injury would have required four to six weeks to heal, much more than the time period the youngster spent at the sidelines before being brought back. “A side strain or whatever they’re calling it, normally takes at least four to six weeks to even come right. We don’t know the depths of how big a strain it was but for somebody who is pushing the limits of his body by bowling 150 kmph, that’s not good management at all,” Lee said in a JioCinema release. “His first game coming back and getting injured, has to directly be on the leadership and the medical staff of the Lucknow Super Giants.” The 47-year-old Lee, who took 310 wickets from 76 Tests between 1999 and 2008, sympathised with Mayank, saying he should have got the right advice. “The only person who has to pay this price is this poor young guy Mayank, who is just electric. Everyone in the IPL has loved seeing what he’s brought… You wish he got the right advice, so he doesn’t have to go through and absorb this. “Now, it’s most probably going to mean that he’s going to miss out on the World Cup if there’s an injury that might come up.” At the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday, Mayank walked off the field after bowling the first ball of his fourth over having taken one wicket for 31 runs. He was returning to action after missing five games. Mayank made a sensational start to the IPL by taking six wickets in his first two games before getting injured. He was later seen engaging in a conversation with India and MI pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Former India batter Suresh Raina said Mayank must have got some valuable insight on how to manage injury. “It was a fantastic gesture from Jasprit Bumrah to talk to the youngster. He has so much experience. When (Mayank) meets him, he will learn so much from Bumrah’s words about looking after an injury. It’s not easy to return from an injury and take wickets,” Raina said. “Team doctor Vaibhav Daga has worked with the BCCI before and helped Bumrah return to fitness as well. When Mayank bowls more with the red ball and white ball, I want to see him in Test matches when we play in Australia, England, or New Zealand. “We haven’t seen pace like this in India for a while. The tips Bumrah gives him now will one day be invaluable.”

Pakistan targets right T20 combination against understrength New Zealand | Cricket

“Probably 50-60 runs short”: CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad after defeat against PBKS | Crickit

Danijones7 months ago05 mins

Chennai [India], : After a defeat against Punjab Kings at their home ground MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad felt his side was “50-60 runs short” during the match and highlighted that pitch was not that great but improved in the second half. “Probably 50-60 runs short”: CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad after defeat against PBKS Punjab Kings with an all-rounded performance, clinched a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk on Wednesday in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2024. HT launches Crick-it, a one stop destination to catch Cricket, anytime, anywhere. Explore now! After Lucknow Super Giants breached Chepauk, CSK’s fortress was breached for the second time in the ongoing season as CSK bowlers struggled to find their rhythm with dew majorly hindering them throughout the night. “Probably 50-60 runs short, the pitch wasn’t great when we batted, but it got better later on. With the impact rule as well, we were well short,” Gaikwad said in a post-match presentation. Talking about the toss, “I’ve practised the tosses , it’s not going well in the match, not sure what to do. To be truthful, I’m under pressure when I go to the middle .” The five-time champions registered a 78-run triumph over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday. “We were also surprised that we won by a big margin in the last match considering the conditions . I think the last two games, the conditions and pitch was better, it allowed us to fight hard and get to 200 , today, it wasn’t good enough to get to even 180,” Gaikwad added. On losing Deepak Chahar in the very first over, the CSK captain said that there are different phases when the team get a wicket and suddenly there are only 2 bowlers who can get a wicket. Chahar got injured after bowling just two deliveries in the opening over of the second innings. “It’s a real problem , there are phases where you want wickets, but you have only two bowlers, the dew took the spinners out of the equation. It was tough, but there were four games left and we will try and come back to winning ways,” he added. The vibrant yellow wave in the stands of Chepauk were reduced to silence after PBKS effortlessly chased down 163 with more than two overs to spare. Sam Curran’s decision to put CSK to bat turned out to be the correct decision as dew factor kicked in to become a hindrance for CSK bowlers in the second half of the match. Ruturaj Gaikwad led from the front and scored 62 off 48 deliveries and MS Dhoni provided the finishing touches at the death to power CSK to an unlikely 162/7. In reply, PBKS batters hardly broke sweat while chasing 163. Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw forged a 64-run stand to completely shifted the momentum in their favor. Curran and Shashank Singh applied the finishing touches to seal a 7-wicket win for PBKS. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

‘See the ball and hit the ball’: Rilee Rossouw reveals success mantra vs Chennai Super Kings | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Key innings from Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory for Punjab Kings against defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the IPL on Wednesday.Chasing a target of 163, Punjab Kings rode on Bairstow’s 46 and Rossouw’s 43 to reach the target with 13 balls to spare at Chennai’s M Chidambaram Stadium.England’s Bairstow continued his strong form from the previous match, where he scored an unbeaten 108 as Punjab chased down a record IPL target of 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.Bairstow and Rossouw, a left-handed South African batsman, stitched a 64-run stand for the second wicket to set up the successful chase.After the Punjab Kings’ win, Rossouw revealed plans he set with Bairstow against the Yellow Brigade.“Got to give credit to the bowlers, 160 on this wicket was chaseable. The way Jonny played today, hopefully, he takes this form forward and gives us the foundation to chase it down,” Rossouw said after the match.“[On plans when he was out there with Bairstow] See the ball and hit the ball, nothing really spoken about as to how many we need, just keeping it simple. [on his dismissal] Unfortunate. It was one of those things, so focussed on hitting the ball and one of those things, I missed out. It’s never over, till it’s over, we have still got the belief in the changeroom, we will focus on our game and not on the others. Hopefully things work out,” Rossouw added.Five-time winners CSK, who have won five and lost five matches in the tournament so far, are fourth in the 10-team table, led by Rajasthan Royals.Punjab Kings are now in seventh place in the points table. With 4 wins in 10 matches, Punjab Kings have 8 points to their name.

Madrid Open 2024: Carlos Alcaraz crashes out in quarters after losing to Andrey Rublev

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

Carlos Alcaraz’s hopes of becoming the first player to win three-straight Madrid Open titles came undone as the second seed fell to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, loss in front of his home crowd to Russian seventh seed Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. The 20-year-old two-times grand slam champion was not at his best despite taking the opening set in 41 minutes, while Rublev put in a dominant performance to roar back and snap Alcaraz’s 14-match winning streak at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament. It will be Rublev’s first semi-final in Madrid. The 26-year-old was on a four-match losing streak coming into the clay-court event. “Maybe this week is a relief but then next week we go back to the same… so better not to think this way because when you start to think ‘Oh, how good everything is’ that’s what happened at the beginning of the season,” Rublev said. “Then, for six weeks, I wasn’t winning anything. It’s better to not think at all. It’s not bad, it’s not good. It’s just a moment. It happens to everyone, every player has been through these moments. “The most important thing is to keep working and improving and then remember that one week can change anything.” Rublev completely outplayed Alcaraz in the deciding set, racing to a 4-1 lead before he wrapped up his comeback. Rublev will next face the winner of the clash between American 12th seed Taylor Fritz and Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, who play later on Wednesday. Alcaraz focussing on ‘normal forehand’ Alcaraz was the last Spaniard standing after 22-times Grand Slam winner Rafa Nadal exited the tournament following a straight sets defeat to the Czech Republic’s 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the round of 16 on Tuesday. Having successfully defended his Indian Wells title in March and then reached the Miami Open quarter-finals, Alcaraz injured his right forearm during a practice session in Monaco and he continues to struggle with the problem that has derailed the start of his claycourt season. “I have to keep working to recover my normal forehand without thinking about my forearm. Today I thought about it more than yesterday,” Alcaraz told reporters. “I think that in Rome, I will continue to play with it (an arm sleeve) as a precaution. “The balance is positive, but when I go out on court I don’t want to lose. If we look at the overall it has been a very good week.” Published By: sabyasachi chowdhury Published On: May 2, 2024

IPL 2024: PBKS’s Harpreet Brar reveals sucess mantra after CSK heroics, says ‘Bowl dot balls, not think about wickets’

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

PBKS spinner Harpreet Brar revealed his focus on bowling dot balls and not aim only for wickets, after his Player of the Match performance against CSK in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on May 1. Brar played a crucial role in his side’s comfortable win over CSK by 7 wickets in Chepauk, where he bowled a brilliant spell and helped PBKS to restrict the home side to just 163 runs batting first in the match. In the runchase, Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw gave PBKS a good platform start, that allowed Shashank Singh and Sam Curran to get their side home easily. Brar has emerged as one of the more dependable spin options for PBKS in IPL 2024, which has seen the 28-year-old bag 6 wickets in his 10 matches for the side. In the high-value CSK clash, Brar gave his side a major breakthrough at the very startof his spell by dismissing Ajinkya Rahane and in-form Shivam Dube in his very first over of the match. The PBKS spinners, specifically Brar and Rahul Chahar with his, played a major roles in their side extending their winning streak against the defending champions to 5 victories in a row. IPL 2024, CSK vs PBKS: Highlights Speaking at the post-match presentation, Brar reflected on his performance while giving an insight on how he shapes up his bowling skills for the greater good of his side. “It was a good wicket to bowl on. Even Rahul bowled very well. I have been playing for the last six years, and my confidence is also built up. I am playing with a lot of legends. I wanted to bowl on my strengths and the things happened. I don’t think about wickets. My aim is to bowl lots of dot balls in my spell and the dot balls create the chances. When there is spin in the wicket, the bowler’s confidence goes up,” Brar said. IPL 2024 Full Coverage | IPL 2024 Points Table and Standings | 2024 IPL Full Schedule Despite this win, PBKS still find them in a tough scenario, where they will have to win all of their 4 upcoming games if they hope to qualify for the playoffs. However, the winning momentum will surely give the side a major boost in their confidence as they prepare themselves for their upcoming clash against the same opponents in CSK on May 5 in Dharamsala. Published By: Debodinna Chakraborty Published On: May 2, 2024

Former India Stars Back Yashasvi Jaiswal To Be Rohit Sharma’s Opening Partner In T20 World Cup 2024

Danijones7 months ago08 mins

Former India cricketers Irfan Pathan and Mohammad Kaif have backed young Yashasvi Jaiswal to be captain Rohit Sharma’s opening partner for India in the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup, to be held in West Indies and USA from June 1. Kohli has been leading run-charts in the IPL 2024 as an opener for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but him opening with Rohit for India in the T20 World Cup could result in teams having left-arm fast-bowler and left-arm spinner match-up. However, Pathan thinks Jaiswal opening with Rohit will help India tackle this match-up in the T20 World Cup. “It’s a question which has been floating around a lot. It should be Yashasvi Jaiswal – as he being a left-hander, what happens is, a team from a bowling point of view, will start with a left-arm spinner and when that happens, you can actually play these two batters. If Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli open, as there’s been a lot of talk about it, you can keep them quiet for a certain period of time. “If you do that, the game goes away, especially at the start and this is where a left-handed batter in Yashasvi Jaiswal comes into the picture. He’s aggressive and will take on the threat of left-arm spinner as well. So, I think Yashasvi should open with Rohit Sharma,” said Pathan while replying to an IANS query in the latest episode of ‘Star Sports Press Room’ show. The Rohit-Jaiswal combination though, will also result in Kohli batting at number three, which would mean his struggles against spin in the post power-play phase could resurface. But Kaif believes Kohli’s previous stupendous success for India in ICC tournaments at number three is still a very big factor. “I would see Jaiswal and Rohit opening, as Kohli has to be there at number three. Though he opens in the IPL, Kohli has done well in ICC events at number three. You need someone who has experience at number three and can bat through. With Yashasvi opening and Kohli in the dugout, there will be pressure on the opposition team that Virat is still to come out to bat.” “If he opens and the opposition gets him out, then it will be a big confidence booster for them. Jaiswal will attack from the first ball and Rohit Sharma also attacks in power-play, then it should be this way: Jaiswal, Rohit and Virat Kohli at number three,” he added. Pathan, the Player of the Match in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup final win over Pakistan in Johannesburg, was left disappointed over the non-inclusion of Rinku Singh and Ravi Bishnoi in the 15-member squad. Rinku, an in-form finisher for India in 15 T20I since his debut last year, is placed in the traveling reserves. “I am very disappointed that Rinku Singh is not there. It’s because Rinku Singh was playing a crucial role in finishing the game – he did it for his franchise (Kolkata Knight Riders) last year and when he played for India, he did that role as well.” “Once you have a strike-rate of 170 and have an average close to 60-70, and then not be picked, then you will be very disappointed. Bishnoi, I thought, despite that number six ranking, misses out to a master spinner like Chahal, though he’s got that fielding skill too. So, these were the two things I had in my mind on seeing this team.” At the same time, Pathan reckons India has to play their cricket in feisty fashion if they are to end a more than a decade drought of World Cup victory. “The guys, who have been selected, have to perform when the pressure time comes in. I am not worried about the first half; it’s about when the knockout matches will happen – this is where I want the Indian team to play fearless cricket which in the last two World Cups – 50-over and 20-over in Australia – we missed out on that.” Kaif agreed with Pathan’s views and felt India’s real examination will be to win knockout matches, something which they haven’t been able to do yet. “It’s a very balanced side, but this is not the IPL, where you play 14 league matches and come back to win the trophy even after losing games.” “In the World Cup, you will meet weaker teams in the initial phase of the tournament till you meet teams like Pakistan and England in the semi-finals. You need to win two big matches to win the trophy and are you ready for that big moment? India haven’t done that in the past and that’s the real challenge for Rohit Sharma.” India will begin their Men’s T20 World Cup campaign on June 5 against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. India, the 2007 Men’s T20 World Cup winners, are in Group A alongside Pakistan, Canada and tournament co-hosts USA. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

IPL 2024 Points Table: What Big Win Over Chennai Super Kings Means For Punjab Kings’ Playoff Hopes

Danijones7 months ago05 mins

Punjab Kings kept their IPL 2024 playoff dreams alive with a big seven-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday. It was an important victory for the Sam Curran-led side who now have 8 points from 10 matches and are seventh in the IPL 2024 points table. PBKS will need to win all of their remaining four matches and depend on other results to end up in the Top 4. On the other hand, the defeat means that CSK remain fourth with 10 points from 10 matches. Rajasthan Royals are at the top of the table followed by Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants. Punjab Kings mounted a pragmatic chase to consign Chennai Super Kings to a demoralising seven-wicket defeat at their own den in their IPL 2024 match on Wednesday. Punjab rode on quick 40s by Jonny Bairstow (46, 30b, 7×4, 1×6) and Rilee Rossouw (43, 23b, 5×4, 2×6) to move past Chennai’s modest 162 for seven, which was built around skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s solid 62 (48b, 5×4, 2×6). The win took PBKS to seventh place on the points table with eight points, while CSK stayed on fourth with 10 points. The Super Kings’ defence of 163 faced multiple barricades as their spinners – Moeen Ali and Ravindra Jadeja – were rendered ineffective because of dew and pacer Deepak Chahar walked off the field with a niggle after bowling just two balls. But that should not take the sheen out of PBKS’ effort with the bat on the night. “Very happy. Every time you come to Chennai and take two wins, always a special feeling. Same as last year, we lost a lot of our home games and won away, finding a similar pattern. We are in a position where we need to win all our games, we come up against the same opposition in a few days. I think when you come to Chennai, you now how hot it is and dew is going to settle in.” “Chahar came back and was the best bowler in the 260 game, and he’s bowling with great confidence. He stepped up when I asked him to bowl against MSD in the 19th over. The pace bowlers were going for a bit in the end, and I wanted to try something different. Asked Rilee what he reckoned and took that gamble with spin. We come against the same opposition so we have one up on them.” “It is a new game, new conditions but this win will give us a lot of confidence. I think our bowlers were superb, the spinners and Jonny striking them well, even the way we paced that chase, it was brilliant. Need to build on that confidence,” PBKS skipper Sam Curran said after the match. (With PTI inputs) Topics mentioned in this article