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Twitter Erupts After Ruturaj Gaikwad's Third Consecutive 50 Helps Chennai Super Kings Knock Kings XI Punjab Out Of IPL 2020

By Yash Mittal

Updated - 01 Nov 2020, 08:14 PM

Kings XI Punjab, Chennai Super Kings, Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad [Photo-IPL]

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Faf du Plessis’s enterprising strokeplay and Ruturaj Gaikwad [62 not-out off 49 balls] third consecutive half-century has helped the Chennai Super Kings finish their IPL 2020 season on a high and in the process knock Kings XI Punjab out of the competition courtesy a 9-wicket win in Abu Dhabi.

Defending 153, Kings XI Punjab desperately needed quick wickets in the powerplay and James Neesham very nearly got them that after Faf du Plessis mistimed the lofted drive, only for Deepak Hooda to spill it after a brilliant effort.

Kings XI Punjab, Chennai Super Kings
Faf du Plessis [Photo-IPL]
Barring that, CSK openers and especially Faf du Plessis were imperious in the powerplay. Post that dropped catch, Du Plessis [48 off 34balls] went on a rampage as he smoked three fours and two sixes in the next seven deliveries he faced by Neesham, Shami, and Bishnoi, as the Chennai Super Kings racked up 57 runs in the powerplay.

KXIP needed their spin-duo of Murugan Ashwin and Ravi Bishnoi to weave their magic in the middle-overs and Bishnoi nearly did that after Ruturaj Gaikwad, in an attempt to drive the ball sliced it to a backward point, only for Mandeep Singh to dive forward and grasp the catch.

KL Rahul argues with the umpire after the on-field decision was overturned [Photo-IPL]
But the third-umpire deemed that the evidence of a clean catch, much to the surprise of Kings XI Punjab players, wasn’t conclusive, thus overturning the soft signal. Gaikwad survived before rubbing more salt to KXIP’s wounds by hitting a boundary on the next delivery.

The wicket eventually came for KXIP in the 10th over after Faf du Plessis, after having smashed Chris Jordan for a boundary earlier in the over, mistimed the scoop to give an easy catch to KL Rahul. But Ambati Rayudu and Ruturaj Gaikwad were up to the task and the duo ensured that there were no jitters post the dismissal of Faf du Plessis.

Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad [Photo-IPL]
The duo brought up the teams’ 100 in the 13th over to reduce the equation to 51 runs off the last seven. Gaikwad once again displayed his class in the next over bowled by James Neesham when he rocked back on the leg-side and steered the ball expertly between short and backward point for another boundary.

Murugan Ashwin nearly provided a breakthrough in his last over when he induced an outside edge but KL Rahul spilled the opportunity. Ruturaj Gaikwad, on the other hand, continued to paint the ground with his exquisite strokeplay.

The young opener smashed Bishnoi with consecutive brilliant inside-out cover-drives to bring up his third consecutive half-century- the first player to do so for CSK- reducing the equation to 24-ball 24. The youngster then proceeded to smoke Mohammed Shami for a disdainful pull stroke to bring the equation to 5 off the last two overs. The last rites were eventually performed in the penultimate over bowled by Chris Gayle.

Deepak Hooda’s first IPL 50 since 2015 helped Kings XI Punjab post a competitive 6-153 against Chennai Super Kings

Batting first, the duo of Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul once again gave a brilliant start to Kings XI Punjab. Agarwal, who returned after injury, smashed five boundaries during his 16-ball 25 before he was unfortunately dismissed after he chopped it on his stumps against Lungi Ngidi.

KL Rahul too played some delightful strokes and he and Mayank’s partnership ensures that Kings XI Punjab made full use of the powerplay as they racked up 53 runs.

Kings XI Punjab,, Chennai Super Kings, KL Rahul
Lungi Ngidi knocked over KL Rahul [Photo-IPL]
The next set of seven overs, however, completely turned around the fortunes of KXIP as they managed just 24 runs for the loss of three big wickets in the form of KL Rahul, Nicholas Pooran (2 off 6 balls) and Chris Gayle (12 off 19 balls)

While Rahul was undone by a slow-cutter by Lungi Ngidi, Pooran and Gayle were dismissed by Shardul Thakur and Imran Tahir respectively.

Mandeep Singh and Deepak Hooda stitched 36 runs for the 5th wicket before it was eventually broken by Ravindra Jadeja, who knocked over the former with a quicker delivery.

Kings XI Punjab, Chennai Super Kings
Deepak Hooda [Photo-IPL[
The wickets just continued to tumble as Lungi Ngidi returned to the attack to dismiss James Neesham thanks to an incredible full-length diving catch by Ruturaj Gaikwad. The constant wickets at the other end did not have any effect on Deepak Hooda though, who smoked Lungi Ngidi for two sixes to keep KXIP afloat.

Hooda’s strokeplay especially the shots that he hit over the cover region was a sight to behold. The youngster smashed another boundary in the 19th over to bring up his 50- his first since 2015- in just 26 deliveries. Hooda then smacked Ngidi [3-39] for a four and a six in the last over to ensure that Kings XI Punjab posted a competitive total of 6-153 in 20 overs.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Chennai Super Kings win over Kings XI Punjab:

Tagged:

IPL 2020 Kings XI Punjab (KXIP)

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