PBKS vs CSK: Riley Rossouw reveals how Sam Curran plotted MS Dhoni's nightmare with Rahul Chahar

Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter Rilee Rossouw lauded skipper Sam Curran for his strategic decision to bowl leg spinner Rahul Chahar against MS Dhoni in the second last over. Rilee Rossouw stated that Sam Curran trusted in his instincts, describing it as a very good call on a slow-turning wicket.

Punjab outperformed the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on a slow pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday, May 1. Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar picked up four wickets for just 33 runs between them. Punjab recorded a seven-wicket victory to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Sam Curran Took The Gamble - Rilee Rossouw

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Rilee Rossouw stated that Sam Curran took the gamble to bowl a leg spinner in the second last over. Rossouw acknowledged that the decision came off beautifully, calling it a brave decision.

“We had a chat out there and you have got to give credit to Sam Curran. He came to me the over before and said ‘what do you think about bowling a leg spinner in the second last over?’ He took the gamble and it came off beautifully well."

"So a lot of credit to Sam for making that decision, it is a brave decision and not something that you see in cricket a lot these days. On a slow, turning wicket, that was a very good call from Sam,” Rossuow said after the game.

Sam Curran handed the ball to Rahul Chahar for the 19th over in the Chennai Super Kings innings. The decision paid off, as Chahar conceded just three runs, including Moeen Ali's wicket. Chahar troubled explosive batter MS Dhoni by denying him access to his favored leg-side boundary.

Before this match, Chahar played four games for PBKS and took three wickets with an economy rate of more than 10 runs. However, he delivered an impactful performance against CSK in Chennai. He took two wickets for 16 runs in his four overs. He dismissed the in-form batter, Shivam Dube, for a first-ball duck.

Harpreet Brar And Rahul Chahar Have Been Phenomenal - Rilee Rossouw

Rilee Rossouw praised Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar for their exceptional performances. The South African batter emphasized that the spin duo has been phenomenal in controlling the run rate for them.

"Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar have been phenomenal. They have been coming in good form for us. Chahar is bowling well. Brar has been consistent."

"They are keeping it simple, and keeping it wicket-to-wicket, and always being in play, whether the ball is turning or not, to give them a wicket. They have been phenomenal for us, especially, economy-wise," Rossouw added.

CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 62 runs off 48 deliveries as the team scored 162 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw added a 64-run partnership for the second wicket. The visiting team chased down the target comfortably with 13 balls to spare.

The Punjab Kings will face the Chennai Super Kings again at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Sunday, May 5.

Also read: PBKS vs CSK: Deepak Chahar doesn't look good; Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana, Mustafizur Rahman leave for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, confirms Stephen Fleming