Pressure on Gaikwad as Chennai run into in-form Gujarat

Having lost their first four encounters of the Indian Premier League 2022, Chennai Super Kings finally got their first win of the season in their previous match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Ravindra Jadeja and Co. will now come face to face against the most in-form franchise, Gujarat Titans, at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in an evening encounter at Pune on Sunday (April 17). The Hardik Pandya-led side are the only franchise to win four of their first five games, and they would want to keep this winning momentum going for as long as possible.

CSK's unlikely heroes

When it came to Chennai’s batting, the limelight was on the likes of Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali and Ambati Rayudu but it’s Robin Uthappa and Shivam Dube who have done the majority of the scoring for the Men in Yellow. Dube has slammed 207 runs in five innings at an average of 51.75 and a strike rate of 176.92, while Uthappa has managed 194 runs at a strike rate of 163.02. Apart from them, Chennai does not have a single batter who has crossed the 100-run mark this season so far.

It was largely because of Uthappa and Dube, Chennai managed to break their four-match losing streak as they batted Bangalore out of the contest. The two put on a partnership of 165 runs - the second-highest stand for Chennai in the history of IPL. CSK struggled in the middle-overs in the first four games but Uthappa and Dube bossed that phase against RCB. Dube, in particular, has been Chennai’s enforcer in the middle-overs. So far this season, the 28-year-old has faced 117 balls and 75 percent of those deliveries have come in the 7-15 phase.

Meanwhile, Uthappa already has two 50-plus scores in IPL 2022 and his strike rate of 163 has been his best in a season. While Uthappa has averaged 55 at a strike rate of 153 in the first six overs, the rest of the CSK batters combined have averaged just 11.3 scoring runs at just 83 this season in that phase. CSK have been highly dependent on Uthappa in the powerplay. However, he will have to be careful against Rashid Khan, considering he has been dismissed by a leg spinner thrice in five innings. 

The team management would want these two to carry their form forward, but Chennai now desperately need Gaikwad to come good. The right-handed opener is known to be a slow-starter but generally turns up after three games. In IPL 2021, Gaikwad managed only 20 runs in the first three innings but then smashed 615 runs in the next 13. This season, the 25-year-old only has 35 runs to his name and has the worst batting average (7) amongst all openers - a minimum of two innings. Meanwhile, Moeen and Rayudu too haven’t been at their best. Chennai have to win their next two-three games to give themselves a better chance of qualifying for the playoffs and for that to happen, the aforementioned names will have to step up. 

Pandya leading from the front

The ace all-rounder is the heart and soul of his team and is currently having the time of his life as captain of the new franchise. The right-handed batter is amongst the top run-getters this season and is also completing his full quota of four overs in every game, except in the previous encounter against Rajasthan Royals where he was struck down with a cramp and had to walk off the field after bowling 2.3 overs. This season, he has batted at four every game and has scored 228 runs at an average of 76 and a strike rate of 136.52.

Against Rajasthan, Pandya smacked 87* off 52 deliveries, ran out Sanju Samson with a direct hit and also dismissed James Neesham. You will get a combined total of 12 overs from Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson and Rashid Khan and with Pandya also becoming a four-over bank, the Titans have got their bowling sorted. Gujarat-Pandya has turned into a fruitful relationship where both parties are thriving off each other. And, the Indian team management would also be delighted with the progress Pandya is showing in terms of fitness ahead of the next T20 World Cup in Australia. 

Time to unleash Hangargekar, Gurbaz

It’s difficult to understand why Chennai have not yet tried Rajvardhan Hangargekar. Left-arm seamer Mukesh Choudhary has featured in four games and has picked up only three wickets at an economy of 11.10. He has also dropped quite a few catches, and maybe it’s time for CSK to give Hangargekar some game-time. The young all-rounder can bowl with the new ball and offer last match's hero Maheesh Theekshana some support in the powerplay. What's more, he is also a fearsome striker of the ball. Yes, he has not yet proven himself at the senior level but Chennai will at least have to give him a chance to fail. And, if he clicks, Hangargekar could prove to be a real asset. 

Gujarat’s Matthew Wade is someone else who would be under some pressure. Apart from him and Vijay Shankar, all Gujarat batters have been in pretty good form. However, the wicketkeeper-batter has only managed 68 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 107.93. He generally plays the role of a finisher for Australia but the Titans already have some quality hitters down the ground. Miller has already played a couple of handy cameos and it wouldn’t be ideal to drop him to bring Wade down the order. Gujarat do have Rahmanullah Gurbaz in their set-up and the aggressive wicketkeeper-batter could fit in perfectly with Gill at the top-order. The 20-year-old has a strike rate of close to 152 in the shortest format of the game and could provide fiery starts in the powerplay.

Probable XIs

Gujarat - Matthew Wade/Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Shubman Gill, Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Abhinav Manohar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Shami, Yash Dayal.

Chennai - Robin Uthappa, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Dwayne Bravo, Chris Jordan/Dwaine Pretorius, Mukesh Choudhary/Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Maheesh Theekshana.

(All stats till April 15, 2022)