Dubai: Chennai Super Kings have won the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 44th Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 match at the Dubai International Stadium.
Young opener Ruturaj Gaikwad’s unbeaten 65 and rayudu’s 39 help CSK to reach their target in 19th over with eight balls to spare.
Kohli’s fifty helped RCB to score 145 runs in their first innings.
An elated Dhoni, said, ‘This was one of the perfect games. Everything went to plan. The execution was there and we were able to pick wickets regularly to restrict them to a total that’s slightly below par on a wicket like this. A lot depends on how the players are performing and how the wicket is. This was definitely on the slower side and the spinners have done a very good job. In the middle overs we have struggled to take wickets. In the games we have gone for runs, it was big in the death overs. That could be one of the reasons why we didn’t do well this season. We haven’t been consistent with the bat, today the start was very good. Rutu (Gaikwad) played really well, backed himself to play the shots that he would play than worry about big shots.’
‘Smiling does make a difference. You do quite a few things, show a bit more emotion (on the happier side) so that the guys feel a bit more confident and relaxed. If you don’t do well, it does hurt and so you amplify a few emotions so that the guys don’t leave the games. We dont really have a chance to make it to the play-offs, leave the mathematical part of it. But three, three and a half hours out there can get really painful. You have to tell them – let’s go out there and give it your best shot and enjoy the game whatever the result might be.’
‘If you aren’t out there enjoying, it becomes very painful. But the boys have always given their 100%. If we had seen this (on Ruturaj performing well) in the second or the third game we could have got a glimpse. But this year has been tough on Rutu as well. He batted in Chennai, then Covid, the extra quarantine took precious time away from him. Even in the last game you saw, it happens in cricket, you face the best bowlers and you nick one. You have to help yourself, and when you are out there you have to fight it out with your mind. I felt he did really well after the first single he took and the first hit; he kept getting more and more comfortable with himself.’
Man of the Match Ruturaj Gaekwad, said, ‘It feels good, and to win the game for the team and stay not-out till the end more importantly feels better than the personal milestone. It was tough for me, quarantining for a lot more days compared to the other guys. Everyone was with me – my friends, family. I was practicing well and I knew one good knock was just around the corner. Unfortunately just got out in three matches, but the management supported me including Mahi bhai. The wicket was slow. I was proactive out there, calculating which bowler to target and whom to not, and it worked out well for me.’