Video of KL Rahul winning six against CSK : IPL 2021

CSK vs PBKS, 07 October 2021, 03:30 PM IST

Match Report : Chennai Super Kings do not have the bowlers for flat conditions. It’s a fact. And here’s proof that these really are flat conditions. A target of 134 was never going to stand up to scrutiny here.

Especially with Rahul playing aggressive cricket- 98 not out in an innings of 139. Forty-two balls faced. Seven fours. Eight sixes. Against a player going like this, you need a 150kph fast bowler or a mystery spinner. Failing that, you need the experience of a man like Dwayne Bravo, who’s been bowling around the wicket and attacking the batter’s hips and chest.

Hiding the ball works too, wide outside off stump. Bhuvneshwar Kumar won a game recently against AB de Villiers with that tactic, even though he ended up bowling two full tosses.

Super Kings had smashed 52 off their last five overs to give their attack something to bowl at, but Punjab Kings hit nearly as many (51) in the powerplay itself to regain control. With Punjab Kings needing to win big (and needing other results go their way), Rahul went on a boundary-hitting spree from the get-go – like he used to do back in the day. 

Punjab Kings demolished Super Kings with six wickets and 42 balls to spare.

MS Dhoni | CSK skipper: “You have to cope (when it comes to mental or skill aspect) up with that. We had played very good cricket to reach the playoff stages. We had a few bad games 2 out of 3 and one we felt like we could have a comeback and that’s part and parcel in leagues like these, you have to be at your best.

Motivation is not a factor, the guys are highly motivated and maybe we need to tune up slightly as to what needs to be done and also a few tosses if they had gone our way. It would have looked worse winning toss and batting on that wicket and I felt the wicket changed a bit, it was a bit challenging but it was a good wicket.”

Aiden Markram: “Been brilliant. It is a tournament where I have been involved with these great bunch of guys. Too many to pick from. He (Rahul) needs to enjoy that. He has done something special tonight.

It was unbelievable to watch. I think you always need to upscale. So I am spending more hours. It is also about learning as to how the best go about their business. Today was an example.”

KL Rahul, winning captain and Player of the Match (seven fours and eight sixes in his 98*): “It was really hot today. Plan was simple. The numbers guys told us a few permutations and combinations. We wanted to score it before 14 overs. Just one of those days when it comes off.

Had complete clarity of what I wanted to do. I feel like I may end up letting the team down if I play how I want to play. But today, this was how I needed to play. Today was one of those days where I could hit every ball. No better feeling than hitting the ball from the middle of the bat.”