NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings reaffirmed their dominance in the IPL arena with a commanding 7-wicket win over the Kolkata Knight Riders at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Leading the charge was CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, whose unbeaten knock of 67 sealed the victory, evoking nostalgia as he reminisced about MS Dhoni's support during his maiden IPL fifty.
"Little nostalgic for me. During my first IPL fifty, a similar situation, Mahi bhai was with me and we finished the match," Gaikwad shared during the post-match presentation.
Riding on stellar performances from bowlers Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman, and Ravindra Jadeja, coupled with fine knocks from Gaikwad and Shivam Dube, CSK maintained their stronghold at home, ending KKR's unbeaten streak in IPL 2024.
In the absence of Ajinkya Rahane, Gaikwad shouldered the responsibility of anchoring the innings, avoiding undue pressure on the younger players.
"With Jinx injured, onus was on me to bat through, didn't want to put the youngsters in a difficult situation," Gaikwad remarked.
Acknowledging the cohesive spirit within the squad, Gaikwad praised the positive attitude of his teammates and highlighted the invaluable guidance provided by Dhoni and head coach Stephen Fleming.
"With this team, I don't really need to tell things to anyone. Everyone's in a great head space, Mahi bhai and Fleming are still around to take those calls," the CSK captain said.
Reflecting on criticism regarding his strike rate, Gaikwad maintained his composure, urging experts to analyze the intricacies of T20 cricket. "I wouldn't say mine is a slow start... maybe something for experts to talk about," he quipped in a lighthearted manner.
Gaikwad's leadership, coupled with the team's collective effort, propelled CSK to a convincing victory, reaffirming their status as serious contenders in the IPL 2024 season.
(With inputs from ANI)
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