Ruturaj Gaikwad’s valiant half-century proved insufficient as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) struggled to post a competitive total of 162 for seven against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter in Chennai on Wednesday.
Gaikwad, the CSK skipper, and his opening partner Ajinkya Rahane provided a solid start, adding 61 runs for the first wicket. However, their cautious approach, consuming 49 balls for their partnership, hindered CSK’s momentum.
The introduction of PBKS spinners Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar proved pivotal. Brar dismissed Rahane and Shivam Dube in quick succession, while Chahar accounted for Ravindra Jadeja. CSK’s middle-order collapse saw them lose three wickets for just 16 runs, effectively shutting down their scoring rate.
Brar and Chahar’s combined figures of 33 runs in eight overs, without conceding a single boundary, highlighted the slow nature of the Chepauk pitch. CSK’s inability to accelerate between the seventh and 15th overs, a period where they typically dominate, was a major setback.
Gaikwad, however, remained resolute, reaching his third consecutive fifty in this IPL with a well-timed six off Harshal Patel. He and Moeen Ali added 38 runs for the fifth wicket, but CSK’s total remained modest.
PBKS’s accurate bowling and CSK’s sluggish batting ultimately resulted in a below-par score, leaving the defending champions with an uphill task in the second innings.
