Just a few days ago, the defending champion Chennai Super Kings had to lose from the Lucknow ground in the IPL. In the return match, there was a chance to take revenge by defeating Lucknow, but Dhoni-Rituraj had to lose despite a big collection at Chennai’s home ground. Even after collecting more than two hundred, the bowlers, especially Bangladeshi Mostafizur Rahman’s bad bowling, sank Chennai. Therefore, in the eyes of many, Mustafiz is more responsible for this loss, but Chennai captain Rituraj Gaikwad does not agree with that team.
Lucknow needed 17 runs off the last over to reach the target of 211 runs set by the home team at the M Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday (April 23). Kora Tiger pacer Mustafizur Rahman, the highest wicket taker for Chennai this season, was given the responsibility of defending this run for Chennai. However, Phiz completely failed to fulfill this responsibility given by Chennai. Lucknow’s match-winning hero Marcus Stoinis scored that run in his first three balls in the last over. At such a rate, the blame naturally falls on the shoulders of the bowler. But Chennai team leader Rituraj doesn’t want to do that.
Rituraj’s century at the beginning of the match made Chennai an innings of 210 runs. Chennai bowlers squeezed Lucknow from the start in this big target. However, the sloppy bowling of the Chennai bowlers in the last few overs gave the control of the match to Lucknow. Mostafiz who played Chip especially well disappointed everyone yesterday. Aussie batsman Marcus Stoinis hit a six off the first ball of the last over by Fizz. He hit two fours in the second and third balls. Mustafiz nods ball number three. Stoinis won the match in Lucknow 3 balls earlier by making the free hit four again. This pacer of Bangladesh scored 51 runs in 3 overs and 3 balls.
But Rituraj doesn’t blame Mustafiz for losing the match. He felt that it was not enough to defend this run on this wicket. After losing the match, he said, ‘Jadeja is batting at number 4. We lost the second wicket in the powerplay because of which he (Jadeja) came in to bat. It is part of our plan. Jadeja will come whenever (two) wickets fall. I think it (team run) is not enough. But they have to be given credit for the way they batted.’
Dew is responsible for the sloppy bowling of the Chennai bowlers. He said there was considerable dew in Chipa last night. Which has an impact on the game. Fielding has been a problem, while the spinners have also had to gain speed to grip the ball.
He said, ‘This loss is difficult to digest but in the end Lucknow played well. The match was in our hands till the 13th over. Hats off to Stoinis. Dew had a big impact on this match. The spinners could not benefit due to dew. Otherwise we would have done better. But that’s part of the game, you can’t control what’s not in your hands.’
