Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) registered their second win on the trot in the ongoing IPL 2024. After a dominating six-wicket win against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2024 opener in Chennai, the reigning champions thumped their authority in the tournament after demolishing the Gujarat Titans by a 63-run win at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday, March 26.
After posting 206 runs on the board after being invited to bat first, the Yellow Army defended the total as they restricted the visitors to 143/8 in their 20 overs quota. While it was the opening pair of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra who added 46 runs each on the board, Shivam Dube starred with his crucial and quickfire 51 off 23 balls.
In one of the videos going viral on social media, the CSK skipper promoted Sameer Rizvi ahead of star Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. In what appears to be a tactical masterstroke, in the 19th over of the CSK inning, Gaikwad was spotted telling the 20-year-old Sameer Rizvi to walk out to bat despite Jadeja waiting for his turn.
In another video also doing rounds, the Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also walked upto former CSK skipper MS Dhoni to inform or ask if Rizvi can walk out to bat ahead of him. It is to be noted that the 20-year-old appeared in his first-ever inning in IPL, despite making a debut against RCB.
Speaking about Sameer Rizvi’s short stay in the middle, he smashed the Afghanistan all-rounder Rashid Khan for a six over deep backward square leg. The INR 8.40 Crore buy for CSK added 14 runs off six deliveries at the strike rate of 233.33, which included two maximums.
The CSK, who currently sit at the top of the points table will next Delhi Capitals at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on March 31 at 7:30 pm. IST.