Value for cash: CSK’s new gamers Mustafizur and Ravindra proved their value in the staff’s victory.
| Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B
Chennai Super Kings couldn’t have requested for a greater begin to its 2024 IPL marketing campaign after a complete win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening sport on Friday.
The victory adopted the Super Kings’ tried-and-tested template of utilizing spinners to choke the runs, complemented by its batters’ aggressive strategy searching for boundaries all through the innings.
More importantly, the success validated the staff’s sensible auction technique as three debutants made a telling impression.
With opener Devon Conway and pacer Matheesha Pathirana unavailable, their replacements — Rachin Ravindra and Mustafizur Rahman — stepped as much as the activity instantly.
Left-arm pacer Mustafizur (4 for 29) set issues up first along with his double twin strikes in his first two overs that left RCB tottering at 78 for 5. From there, the guests needed to be content material with only a par rating. The defending champion acquired the Bangladeshi pacer at a base worth of ₹2 crore and it was one of the finest buys. After the auction in December 2023, Indian cricketer R. Ashwin praised the signing, saying the 28-year-old might be deadly on the grippy surfaces in Chepauk along with his cutters and it proved prescient. The ‘Fizz’ flummoxed Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Cameron Green along with his cutters and was proved onerous to get away.
Then Ravindra, one other steal at the auction for simply ₹1.8 crore, arrange the chase brilliantly along with his 15-ball 37. The fashionable left-hander stored issues easy, hitting it on the rise with pulls and flicks to right away put RCB underneath the pump.
Mitchell.
| Photo Credit:
VEDHAN M
Later, Daryl Mitchell confirmed what he might do along with his cameo knock and why the staff splurged ₹14 crore to select him. The Kiwi took only a few balls earlier than lofting leg-spinner Karn Sharma straight down the floor for consecutive sixes to maintain the momentum by means of the center overs.
Though it’s early days, nicely begun is half-done and Super Kings can be ok with their homework paying off.
Meanwhile, Pathirana has joined the squad whereas Mustafizur shall be out there solely until April 30 owing to nationwide responsibility.
