5 moments that shaped CSK's second win of IPL 2024

New powerplay basher in town

Rachin Ravindra had a strike rate of 125.56 in the powerplay in T20s before wearing the CSK jersey. However, in just two games in IPL 2024, the left-hander from New Zealand has slammed 83 runs at a strike rate of 237.14. 37 off 15 against RCB and now 46 off 20 against GT on March 26 (Tuesday). His strike rate in the first six overs has been 233.31. 

Rachin smashed six fours and three maximums and took CSK to 62 before perishing on the second delivery of the sixth over. Chennai ended the powerplay with 69 runs on board. This season, he has hit 14 boundaries in the powerplay - only PBKS and RCB have struck more boundaries than him.

Also read - S̶a̶c̶h̶i̶n̶ 'Rachin, Rachin' — a new star arrives in Chennai

Dube turning into a complete batter?

We all know Shivam Dube eats spin for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but the tall left-hander is also constantly improving against pace and short deliveries. This season, he has faced 28 short balls and scored 44 runs at a strike rate of 157.1 without getting out.

Now, that strike rate is not insane but if you combine it with his SR of 176.47 against spin, Dube becomes a force to be reckoned with. In fact, he has hit the most number of sixes (21) in the middle overs since 2023. He started his innings against R Sai Kishore and clobbered the first two deliveries he faced out of the park.

Even Rashid Khan felt the wrath of Dube’s bat. The 30-year-old smacked 51 off 23 balls - his sixth fifty for CSK in 27 innings. For other franchises, he only had one half-century in 22 innings.

Sameer got the Rizzz…

You are just 20, playing for arguably the best IPL franchise, who shelled INR 8.4 crore to get you in the auction - Sameer Rizvi would have been under pressure when he walked out to bat in the penultimate over. What’s more, you are up against Rashid Khan. And what does Rizvi do? 

The youngster goes down on his knee and slams Rashid over deep square leg, becoming the eighth player in IPL history to hit a six on his first-ever ball. The next ball went for two, then he missed one, and then came down the track and whacked one over long-off. He got out in the final over, but his 14 off 6 left everyone in awe.

Gill falls to Chahar, again

The moment GT were chasing 206, they needed a big knock from their skipper Shubman Gill. The 24-year-old started on a superb note, lofting Deepak Chahar straight down the ground for a six. The right-arm seamer, however, got his revenge in the next over. 

Chahar got one to skid through and pinned Gill (8 off 5) in front of the wickets, dismissing him for the fourth time in this format. Gill now averages 19.75 against Chahar. The seamer also got the wicket of Wriddhiman Saha and finished with figures of 2/28.   

Sai Sudharsan’s poor knock

The left-hander walked out to bat in the third over, when the score was 28. The required rate was still not out of reach but he made no efforts to keep up to the rate. He ended the innings with a strike rate of 119.35. By the time he departed, the required rate had gone past 18. 

That was a negative knock and GT eventually lost by 63 runs. Amongst batters with at least 50 runs this season, he has the worst strike rate (117.1).