Tremendous Tripathi sets up the match for KKR, Dhoni, Kedar gifts a win for " "Chennai" mate

"Third Man"- CSK vs KKR Match Review ( 7th October, Abhu Dhabi)

KKR defeated CSk by 10runs at Abhu Dhabi despite scoring a below par 167 on a good batting wicket. KKR who won the toss, elected to bat, kept on losing wickets at regular intervals, contributed by superlative bowling by the CSk bowlers, Dwane Bravo, the carribbean Champion, was the pick of the bowlers picking 3 wickets, scalped his 150th wicket for CSK,  especially putting the brakes at the death overs. 

Rahul Tripathi was the shining light for the knight riders. Opening the batting this time, Tripathi came out all guns blazing, played shots all round the wicket, hitting boundaries and sixes and scored a brilliant 81 of just 51 balls.

While the margin of defeat looks like it was a close encounter, an analysis and intense scrutiny of the scoring pattern and strike rate of some of the "Stalwarts"of CSk during the various stages of the game would expose the real cause of losing the match which should have been won easily.

1 to 12 overs - 99/1, fabulous start by the top order

 CSK was off to a brisk start with Watson and Du Plussis continuing from where they left off against punjab , putting on 30 runs in quick time, before Faf nicked on to the KKR skipper.  Rayudu, the man in form, joined Watson and continued to flourish playing attacking shots and taking on the bowling.Watson registering yet another 50 proving his worth when he finds his touch.By the end of 12 overs, super kings were dominating the chase at 99/1 when Rayudu lost his wicket trying to clear long on fence and getting caught.

13 to 17th over - Brilliant DK, mystery spinners dry up the runs, Dhoni faulters again

Dinesh Karthik, who was under fire for his unimaginative captaincy so far, got everything right in this game right from opening the innings with Tripathi to holding up Sunil Narine to let him control the game during the middle overs against Watson, Dhoni and co on a pitch which was slowing down. Narine immediately reaped rewards by trapping Watson with a quicker one.

Dhoni promoted himself up the order and walked at no 4, and as we have witnessed through this season, he couldn't get going at all and was grafting for singles during the middle overs. CSk could manage only to score at less then 6 runs during this period which overcomplicated things again to leave a tough task in the last 3 overs.

Varun Chakravarty, the mystery spinner, who once worshipped Dhoni as a fan from the chepauk stands, got his sureal moment when he ended Dhoni's agony ( 11 of 12 balls)by getting him bowled by a tossed up delivery to - It was a wild heave by Dhoni, which might be a proof of his struggles with the bat and signs of his waning powers with the willow.

17th to 20th over - Kedhar's Day out - " No show" 

Here comes the game changing moment, Kedar Jadav arrives at the crease in the 17th over when 39 runs were needed from 21 balls.  Clueless against the variations from Varun, kedar blocks the first 3  deliveries, much to the delight of the opposition camp.

Andrew Russell, who has been having a poor season with the bat, bowls a brilliant 18th over where Jadav swings , swings and couldn't put bat to ball - finally gets off the mark in 6 balls, surely must be the skippers advice to take the game deep. Just 3 runs and the wicket of Curran, Russel's 18th over, well supported by Kedar's miseries with the bat, ensures too much to get in the last 2 overs.

While an improbable 26 runs were needed of the last over, late flurry of boundaries from Jadeja, though after the match completely slips out, reduces the margin of victory by 10 runs. Kedhar remains unbeaten at 7* of 12 balls - Surely a match winning innings for KKR. Dinesh Karthik must be thankful to Dhoni and Jadav for gifting a victory and giving them a much needed win to go up in the points table.

Where CSK lost the match?? 

Here comes some of the questions to the Skipper Dhoni, who is obviously making the calls on the selection and batting order - I am sure these are the ones the Ardent CSK followers, with lot of anger, anguish and utter disappointment, would want to know

* Why choose an utterly out of form Kedhar, who has not been used as a bowler too, in the playing 11 on an important Match which the team needs to win to stay alive in the tournament? Why not a young batsman be given a chance from the reserves? The fans and  Mr Flemming think alike, but what did you see in Kedhar to persist with him throughout??

*Why did you bat at poor strike rate between the 13th to 17th over, as if you were batting against James Anderson and Stuart Broad to save a test match at Headingly, which made a chasable target look improbable in the last 2 overs?? If you believe you are not in the best of batting nick, why did not sent someone else who can swing his bat and get quick runs?

* Why did Kedar came ahead of Bravo, knowing that Bravo has been making an impact in the match with the ball and his good form in the preceding CPL with the bat before coming to the IPL? Why did Bravo did not get to bat in the last 3 matches, knowing his strike rate and big hitting can turn the match in your favour? Did you not want to win?

* Finally, isn't time to take tough calls on the non performing players and right away give chances to youngsters to " Cement" their place and to save the reputation of the reputed franchise owned by the famous "India cements"??

Whats the road ahead?

CSK meets arch rivals RCB at Dubai Today ( 10th October)in their last league match of the 1st round  ( won 2 out of  6 matches played)

A win will save pride and raise hopes of a miraculous comeback to reach the Play off, A loss will certainly make things almost impossible. One change is certain for CSk, Jadav will be warming the bench...

_____________________________________________