sealed with a six. Pace on the ball, short into the body, and he plays the pick-up pull over long leg
RCB vs CSK, 44th Match at Dubai, IPL, Oct 25 2020 - Ball by Ball Commentary
CSK won by 8 wickets (with 8 balls remaining)
Dhoni's comments on Gaikwad were excellent. He spoke about all the trouble he has been through: Covid-19, then a longer quarantine, then walking into a losing side and getting off to a poor start to his career. Dhoni said the coaches and management are all there to help you, but ultimately you have to go out there and fight it out for yourself. It is true for life overall too. And also how pragmatic he is about the rest of the season. The onus is on enjoying the 12 remaining hours now. MS remains a good'un. See you tomorrow. Also hop over to the other tab for the other game tonight
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Man of the Match: "It feels good. More importantly winning the game for the team. And being not out in the end. It was tough for me going into quarantine for more days than the rest of the team because of Covid. I got support from everybody. I knew a knock was always around the corner. It was a little bit slow, but I was picking up the gaps. And I was pro-active to pick which bowlers to attack and which to not."
MS Dhoni: "I felt this one was one of the perfect games. Everything went to plan, and the execution was there. We kept picking wickets, and kept them to a total that was slightly below par. The wicket was on a slower side, and the spinners did a good job. We haven't been very consistent with the batting. Today the start was very good. Rutu batted well. He backed himself to play the shots he is known for. Looking to time the ball, if you look for four, you can get six. It does hurt when you don't do well so you try to amplify certain emotions. So that the guys just don't drop the game. That can leave with 12 painful hours of the remaining time in the tournament. You have to enjoy the game no matter where you are on the table. If you are not enjoying the cricket, it can become cruel and painful. So I am glad with how the youngsters have responded."
Virat Kohli: "What you saw in the second innings wasn't a true reflection of how difficult the pitch was. We didn't hit the areas. Too many boundary balls. They bowled really well. We hardly got any drive balls from them. We were looking for 150, but we were happy with 145. Our extra pace might be a factor but that can't be an excuse. We just didn't bowl enough slower balls. No change of pace, no bouncers. We saw how difficult it was to get under those slower balls."
**
A comprehensive win over contenders for a top-two slot. CSK bowled very well in conditions tailormade for them, shutting RCB down with lack of pace, and then the top three of CSK did the business. Although you will have to question the RCB tactics. They hardly bowled a slower ball after having seen CSK have a party running their fingers on the ball. An off day for RCB means they have given DC a clean shot at a top-two finish after they had messed things up with two tactically poor games back to back. Kohli was the first one to admit his bowlers could have bowled more slower balls and changed things up with pace
low full toss, dug out to short cover
on a length, on-pace, the story of RCB'a defence. Gaikwad picks it up over midwicket for four more
Saini just went off the field. The last ball that he fielded last over has hurt him
on a length, just outside off, inside edge onto the boot
"When Dhoni came to bat, Rituraj had played 41 balls; since then, Dhoni played 17 balls and Rituraj played 6 more balls. I think, CSK just letting things to go the way it goes, no process or planning whatsoever." Venkatesh, make it 21 and 6. Here is Morris
nearly a yorker, 144ks, Dhoni pushes this back to him
low full toss, hit down the ground and along the ground and straight to mid-off
on a length, just outside off, pushed to cover
slower ball, short of a length, wide, cut hard to backward point
on a length, outside off, looks to punch this hard but doesn't get any power into this
Dhoni will not take this deep. On-pace length ball with mid-off up, and he picks his spot. Goes over wide mid-off for four
Dhoni wants to hit an early six, leaves the crease, but is done in in the air, and ends up with just the single to long-on
on a length, Dhoni rocks back, punches this hard but straight to extra cover
low full toss, driven to long-on for one
full again, drilled to long-off for one
slow, high, dipping, driven nicely to long-off for one
slow, full, drifting in. Leg-bye as Dhoni misses with his attempted nurdle
Chahal's last over
short and wide, lucky to get away with it as Dhoni has cut this straight to deep cover
full, straight, 145ks, swinging in, pushed to short midwicket
on a length, angling in, pushed past midwicket for one
full and straight, pushed to long-on for one
Over 19 • CSK 150/2
CSK won by 8 wickets (with 8 balls remaining)