In IPL 2024, no team took fewer wickets in the powerplay than CSK, who managed only 15 powerplay wickets across 14 group games. The Men in Yellow averaged nearly 50 with the ball in the first six, and the inability to dent opposition sides up-front proved to be a real cause for concern.
Early days, but Khaleel Ahmed looks like he could be the side’s saviour in the powerplay this season.
In IPL 2024, Khaleel took 8 powerplay wickets at an average of 23.3 and proved to be a real threat with the new ball. Bought for INR 4.8 cr at the auction by CSK, he brought the same form and rhythm to Chepauk today, bowling a remarkable new-ball spell.
Taking the brand new ball, the left-armer dismissed Rohit Sharma after just four balls, and then doubled down by sending the dangerous Ryan Rickelton packing in the third over. After two overs, Khaleel’s figures read 2-0-8-2 and CSK, by then, had significantly dented the visitors.
Eventually, in a way, Khaleel’s spell proved to be the difference between the two sides: both teams’ spinners were effective but MI’s pacers went for plenty in the powerplay, conceding 48 runs in the five overs they bowled with the field up.
Going forward, If Khaleel can consistently provide strikes up-front, it would make CSK a serious force to be reckoned with due to the monstrous spin attack they possess.
Afghanistan’s left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad had a debut to remember for CSK. The 20-year-old picked up 4/18 in his four overs, registering the best figures for CSK on debut.
Noor, who was CSK’s most expensive buy at the IPL 2025 mega auction, got his first wicket in his second over, breaking the 51-run stand between Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma.
SKY was undone by the wrong’un and missed the ball, and MS Dhoni removed the bails in just 0.12 seconds. Then, in his third over, the wrist spinner got rid of Robin Minz and Tilak to break the back of MI’s middle order.
Noor finished his spell by knocking over Naman Dhir from behind his legs. He got the ball to turn big and, thanks to him, CSK managed to restrict MI to 155/9.
Have MI done it again? Are we seeing the next Jasprit Bumrah being unearthed right in front of your eyes? Time will tell. But Vignesh Puthur certainly made quite the impression on debut.
For someone who had played zero professional T20 matches, for someone who nobody knew much about, Vignesh, a greenhorn, shone the brightest for MI. The left-arm wrist-spinner showcased exceptional control and foxed not one, not two, but three CSK batters with his dip.
ALSO READ: Who Is Vignesh Puthur, Kerala Spinner Debuting For MI Who's Played 0 T20s?
The 24-year-old was thrown the ball when the game looked like it was done, but he single-handedly brought the visitors back into the contest. Both his stock delivery and googly were on point, and he showed tremendous self-belief. Towards the end, Suryakumar Yadav utilised Vignesh as MI’s trump-card on the night.
If the wrist-spinner can sustain this excellence, it would make MI significantly stronger as the season progresses, solving a major second-spinner problem for them.
If Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra are part of a T20 side, you would expect the former to play the anchor, with the latter taking the attack to the bowlers in the powerplay. However, what happened in the run-chase was completely different. Coming in at No.3, Gaikwad went crazy in the powerplay and smashed his fastest fifty in the IPL.
The CSK captain hit 53 off 26 deliveries, crafting six fours and three sixes. Gaikwad fell to Puthur, who triggered a sort of a collapse in the middle overs. CSK lost four wickets for 38 runs but Rachin was super smart with his approach and made sure CSK got over the line with five deliveries to spare.
Rachin was on 46 off 41 but smoked three sixes in his next four deliveries to finish with 65* off 45. The Men in Yellow dropped Devon Conway for Rachin and the youngster showed everyone why it was the right decision.
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