NEWS
Follow UsComing off a loss against Gujarat Titans in their opening game, the odds were a bit against Chennai Super Kings despite playing in their fortress. But, some ordinary decision-making and questionable choices from Lucknow Super Giants meant that CSK's homecoming had a happy ending.
The Chepauk has always been a low-scoring surface, but this game ended up producing the second-highest match aggregate at the venue in all IPL. MS Dhoni, the CSK skipper, also felt that this Chepauk surface played contrary to expectations but said that this probably wouldn't be the case across the season.
"All of us were thinking how the wicket would be. It was the perfect first game that could happen, but I thought it would be much slower. But it was a wicket where you could score runs. I was quite surprised with the wicket. But we'll have to see if we can produce a wicket like this game after game," he said after the game.
MSD felt that the pacers had some room to improve, especially on the extras' front.
"Fast bowling, we need to slightly improve. Need to bowl according to the conditions. What is important is to keep an eye on what the opposition bowlers are doing. One more thing if they'll have to bowl no no-balls or extra wides. Or they'll have to play under a new captain. It will be my second warning and then I'll be off. The only reason we've scored those runs is because the surface is nice."
Talking about the result, KL Rahul, the LSG skipper, felt that the conditions didn't reflect their performance.
"Obviously not the most ideal start after winning the toss and putting them into bat. The bowlers said it was sticky and moving a bit so there was something in it for them but they didn't put it in the right areas. When you have quality batters in the opposition, they will make you pay.
"Conway and Rutu played some brilliant shots, so it's something for us to learn and get better at. When you bowl first on a fresh wicket, it takes a bit of time to understand what a good pace and line to bowl is on that wicket. Six overs going for 70-odd is probably what cost us the game in the end, but I can't pinpoint one thing."
KL also felt that they pulled things back with the bat, and were in with a chance. He commended the team for chipping in with crucial contributions and felt that they didn't depend on a few individuals to win them games.
"I think we were in the game in the second half quite a lot and got off to a really good start but lost a few wickets and kept pressing on. It's not often that you'll get 4 or 5 batsmen caught on the boundary. If a few of them had gone over, we would have been on the winning side. Sometimes in T20, those margins don't go your way.
"It's good to see what Kyle (Mayers) has done with the opportunity. Bish also did very well. It's good to see different players putting their hands up to give us the best chance to win the game and that's something for us to take forward in the tournament."
The Super Giants head back home to play the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday, 8th April. Chennai, on the other hand, next play Mumbai Indians in Mumbai on Saturday, 9th April.
