When we just thought that CSK was finding their form this IPL, KP (Kevin Peterson) showed why he is still one of the best in world cricket! Daredevils proved that the wicket had nothing to do with the debacle show of CSK and it was just pure good cricket that made the daredevils maul the hell of the roaring lions. I have always felt that the IPL is the stepping stone for local talent and yet again we saw one emerge in the name of Nadeem shah! His bowling was fantastic & we saw that Bravo truly needs to play some spinners in the nets to understand India doesn’t work the Caribbean way!
CSK better buck up the way they are playing as it looks like most of the teams have found a crack in the armoury of the champions. Dhoni can be at his political best in the post match conferences but deep down a true cricket fan knows that things are not panning out for the Skipper on the field. First of the opening pair, though FAF looks like he is in the form of his life his partner seems to be in the exact opposite. Communication is a key trait in cricket but CSK’S openers better learn each other’s dialects if they want to see a good opening stand. The way it’s going I don’t see it happening anytime soon. Raina is looking good and to me he is the key for the CSK march this year. Badrinath is a real mystery to me, I get it he has scored in the past but do you really expect me to believe that he even finds a place in this XI. Saha is in the form of his life and he is better suited to play against this kind of bowling rather than Badrinath who won’t find a place in a 50 over format in my team let alone 20 over format due to his rate of scoring. Dhoni is the best batsman in the team without a doubt but leaving things to the very end will not work at all times skipper. Dhoni would be a perfect no.4 and Saha, Jadeja, Albie and bravo can move in for the kill in the depth over’s.
In the bowling department the key has & will always be Ashwin- PERIOD! Jadeja & Bravo might get wickets and maul the opposition with their bats against a side which looks like they belong in the plate championship of the Ranji trophy but when it comes to more quality sides I see their bowling being hit more and more towards the stalls which are outside the stadium. Doug and Albie both look out of sorts and this is a real concern when you do not have bowlers to back Ashwin whom time and again gives only 5-6 runs an over. CSK really needs a guy who can constantly bowl at 145 kmph as most of the sides have world class fast bowlers who invariably restrict the opposition. Though Albie and Doug achieve this pace they are nowhere in the league of a Malinga or Steyn or Mornie!
Overall the reigning champions don’t look the part this year! Though only 3 games have gone by a cricket fan can truly feel the pulse that CSK needs to work on their combination! Dhoni has always been a master at strategy but maybe a few changes and the old lion might roar back to the top of the IPL! Until next time…
