END OF OVER:
20 | 24 Runs | SRH: 189/6 (14 runs required, RR: 9.45)

  • Nicholas Pooran64 (33b)
  • Marco Jansen0 (0b)
  • Mukesh Choudhary4-0-46-4
  • Dwaine Pretorius4-0-40-1

Well, that was a very generous interview from Dhoni, eclectic and sounded quite candid. More will be written on that. Today's game was an interesting one, particularly with SRH's batters trying to go big when possible. But the spinners keeping lengths tight and trajectories flat meant the run-flow was stemmed and the target was out of reach. Kudos to Pooran who connected with a few at the end, drop catches helped but unforced errors need to be held on the fielders. That's a bit of a self-note too. Anyway, it was lovely covering these games, hope you enjoyed it too as with the weekend. I am Ekanth, signing off on behalf of my fellow commentator, Hemant Brar, and our scorers, Thilak and Ranjith. Take care, stay safe.

Udit: "That was a management class by Dhoni! Class act he is. "

Lakssman: "Hey Ekanth, can you please clarify what Kane mentioned by saying "losing Nattu" Think he had a niggle midway. At least that's what I suspect.

Roy: "Where are the Dhoni haters ?? " Never thought this was the time to come out...

Ruturaj Gaikwad is POTM: It felt good, better that it came in a win. (On season's form) There will be times when good balls come in and bad luck but with a good support staff you have faith. You have to start from 0, so I do not believe in form. I feel playing pace brings the best out of me. (On facing short balls) I did not expect it. There are some types of balls which bowlers cannot always execute, it's also two off six. So, I know when it's not coming, but I do work on it. I told Devon he can take his time, I know the ground and that runs come along as he plays along.

MS Dhoni, CSK Captain: It was a good score to start off. When you put a score like that, it is slightly easy for the bowlers to defend. I did nothing different, when you're in the same dressing room, you keep saying the same things. it's not like much changes with the change of captain. The target we got was a good one, dew comes in so the bowling needed to be good. It's just that we got a good start and made the most of the early overs with the bat. We needed good bowling after that. The spinners did well after the sixth over when it starting holding a bit, build the required rate in that period. That was key to the win and gave a surplus of runs which we could fall back on. The opposition can get back after a good start even with a chase of 200 but our spinners ensured that was not the case. We have had quite a few good performances with the bat, but we gave 25 off 2 overs and their like with the ball, so the bowlers have to try something different. I have told my bowlers that if bowlers get hit for 4 sixes off the over, two balls are left and something can be done. Not sure everyone buys in with such theories but I think it works. I think Jadeja knew last season he'd be captaining this year. For the first two games, I oversaw his work and let him be later. I insisted he'd take his own decisions and responsibility for them. You cannot spoon-feed everything to them. Once you become captain, it means a lot of demands come in and can affect the player's performance and occupy their mind which I think was the case with him. I think captaincy burdened his prep and performances, it meant he could not go with the bat and ball with the same intensity, we had a deep-midwicket fielder. We have had a lot of drops which we need to improve on. We do not want bowlers to be lost, with the younger bowlers, you need to be with them and tell them about the fields. It's good to see Mukesh come up, you can't get away with things at this level. You need to accept shortcoming too which is key.

DJ: "Have to appreciate the over rate by both the teams, may be experienced captains helped that cause."

Kasun Udana: "That 17th Over by Theekshana made things difficult for Pooran."

Bala: "When will this fixation of chasing stop or will it at all?"

Mukesh Choudhary, 4-0-46-4: When the catch was missed, the runs were high. But what had happened had happened, I tried to go for wickets with the ball and it came off. Taking wickets in the powerplay is the objective, particularly with Bravo not on. He gives support on the field, he did so yesterday in the pre-match plan and that helped. At the end, Dhoni tried told me to bowl in front and avoid no-balls which I managed to do.

Kane Williamson, SRH Captain: It's always a challenge to chase over 200. We had challenges trying to find overs in the first innings too. But they played well. We did not have all the resources going in, and unfortunately did not cross the line. We tried our best to adjust but losing Nattu and Washi was bad. We have to learn to deal with adversity as they can come up anytime. We chased well as the pitch slowed down. We need to touch on things and move on, stay connected with what worked in the first half to comeback by building on performances.

11:05 pm: MS' return to captaincy starts with a win, it was set up by the openers. SRH gave it a good shot with Kane trying to go deep, Abhishek and Pooran did well but the loss of wickets, mainly taken by Mukesh meant it was a target a baker's dozen, as Danny Morrison called it, short. CSK's spinners did well as well. The side is in smiles as it makes the way back.

19.6
1
Mukesh Choudhary to Pooran, 1 run, Full on the stumps, heaved off the bottom to wide-long on

Gopal : "What Pooran's hitting has done is SRH still remain in top 4 due to NRR. Even in defeat, Pooran's innings remains vital for reducing margin of defeat"

19.5
6
Mukesh Choudhary to Pooran, SIX, Full outside off, it was on the tramline. Pooran bent fully, the back knee was on the floor and he launched the drive over sweeper cover and it misses the car there by a bit on the right

Nick: "I guess Mukesh would have settled for 4 for 22, likely to get those lovely figures mullah-ed by Pooran"

Bhaskara Navulu: "Any chances of CSK qualifying for top 4?" Probably mathematically possible but very unlikely

19.4
6
Mukesh Choudhary to Pooran, SIX, Going, going, gone! Length ball on the hips is pulled 86-metres over backward-square a few rows back for six

Suresg: "Almost lost count of drops today. "

19.4
1w
Mukesh Choudhary to Pooran, 1 wide, Low fully down leg beats the attempted help down fine leg but it is wide
19.3
0
Mukesh Choudhary to Pooran, no run, In the arc... missed! Length ball over the stumps is heaved through but thin air is found.
19.2
4
Mukesh Choudhary to Pooran, FOUR, Guides a low, wide full toss in the air over backward to the fence, it also brings up his fifty and reduces the effect of the NRR dent
19.1
6
Mukesh Choudhary to Pooran, SIX, Back of a good length ball is heaved to deep-midwicket off the toe-end but far enough

38 needed off 6 balls, should be over. That's what six balls are, I say with apologies.

END OF OVER:
19 | 12 Runs | SRH: 165/6 (38 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.68, RRR: 38.00)

  • Nicholas Pooran41 (27b)
  • Marco Jansen0 (0b)
  • Dwaine Pretorius4-0-40-1
  • Mukesh Choudhary3-0-22-4
18.6
1lb
Pretorius to Pooran, 1 leg bye, LBW denied, reviewed by CSK. Looks out, Pooran went across and tried to flick the full ball, he was slightly squared up. Maybe not, it missed the flick and hit the right of the front pad. Hawk-Eye says it's going down leg so Pooran survives
18.5
4
Pretorius to Pooran, FOUR, Another outside edge, this off the full toss outside off and it went between the keeper and short-third on its way to the fence.
18.4
2
Pretorius to Pooran, 2 runs, Full outside off, slashed behind short-third off the outside edge
18.4
1w
Pretorius to Pooran, 1 wide, Way wide outside off, left alone
18.3
0
Pretorius to Pooran, no run, Santner drops a twirler at long-off! He had a simple catch to his right, it popped out his hand and went back, he tried to take it with a couple of attempts but could not hang on after Pooran drove the full ball outside off with limited elevation
18.2
4
Pretorius to Pooran, FOUR, Whacks a low full toss outside off down the ground, to the right of the bowler and it raced along the turf to the fence
18.1
0
Pretorius to Pooran, no run, Skier dropped at deep-square leg! Full on the stumps, Pooran launched the flick but went straight up, the fielder had enough time to settle under it but could not hang on

END OF OVER:
18 | 6 Runs 2 Wkts | SRH: 153/6 (50 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.50, RRR: 25.00)

  • Nicholas Pooran31 (21b)
  • Mukesh Choudhary3-0-22-4
  • Dwaine Pretorius3-0-29-1

Gyan: "Seriously this review?? I heard the nick even on Cricinfo." The confidence was baffling.

17.6
W
Mukesh Choudhary to Washington Sundar, OUT, Mukesh has four! Sundar went across and tried to paddle-scoop it but the ball went straight, may have kissed the bottom edge, and hit top of off. That's how far across he went.

Washington Sundar b Mukesh Choudhary 2 (13m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

17.5
2
Mukesh Choudhary to Washington Sundar, 2 runs, Clips a length ball on the pads past the right of short-fine leg but deep-backward square, Conway, runs to his right and stops it with a slide

Washi is in despite the webbing injury in his top hand

17.4
W
Mukesh Choudhary to Shashank Singh, OUT, Given caught-behind. Shashank reviews. It was a short ball, seam-up, that went across outside off. Shashank tried to pull it with his front leg diagonally to the left of the back leg, there is a spike when the ball is close to the top-edge of the base of the bat. Decision stands.

Shashank Singh c †Dhoni b Mukesh Choudhary 15 (17m 14b 1x4 0x6) SR: 107.14

17.3
0
Mukesh Choudhary to Shashank Singh, no run, Premeditates and fails! Goes across and the bowler followed with a length ball angling across, the batter overran and tried to paddle-pull but mised
17.2
0
Mukesh Choudhary to Shashank Singh, no run, Length outside off, chops it after attempting a heave. The pace was off and it went on to the pitch off the bottom edge
17.1
4
Mukesh Choudhary to Shashank Singh, FOUR, Mishits a length ball outside off but it goes over mid-off, it went wider and in the air. The inside-out shot went to the fence beating the chase

Karthik : "Pretorius gonna bowl 17th and 19th.. Who's gonna bowl the other two... Mukesh should bowl one over atleast.." Not sure but Mukesh is on, he's on a hattrick as a commentor mentioned earlier.

END OF OVER:
17 | 12 Runs | SRH: 147/4 (56 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.64, RRR: 18.66)

  • Shashank Singh11 (10b)
  • Nicholas Pooran31 (21b)
  • Dwaine Pretorius3-0-29-1
  • Maheesh Theekshana4-0-26-0
16.6
1
Pretorius to Shashank Singh, 1 run, Low full toss on the legs is helped on its way to long-leg along the ground
16.5
1
Pretorius to Pooran, 1 run, Slower one outside off has Pooran slashing, it goes off the bottom to long off on the bounce

Around the wicket

16.4
1
Pretorius to Shashank Singh, 1 run, Full on the stumps, clipped to deep-midwicket

SRH 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st58KS WilliamsonAbhishek Sharma
2nd0KS WilliamsonRA Tripathi
3rd30KS WilliamsonAK Markram
4th38KS WilliamsonN Pooran
5th25Shashank SinghN Pooran
6th2N PooranWashington Sundar
7th36N PooranM Jansen

Indian Premier League

TeamMWLPTNRR
GT14104200.316
RR1495180.298
LSG1495180.251
RCB148616-0.253
DC1477140.204
PBKS1477140.126
KKR1468120.146
SRH146812-0.379
CSK144108-0.203
MI144108-0.506