IPL 2021: Biggest Challenge For CSK Would Be To Bat First, Says Virender Sehwag

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pulled off a great win against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. CSK won by two wickets in the game that went down to the wire with a lot of turns and twists came on its way.

Some late firepower from KKR wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik and Nitish Rana helped KKR to post a competitive score of 171/6 as the team added 53 runs from the last five overs.

CSK beat KKR by two wickets on the final ball

Although CSK openers Rutuaraj Gaikwad (40) and Faf du Plessis (43) set the stage for them to chase the target with an excellent 74-run stand between them, but KKR bowlers put breaks on CSK’s chase by taking regular breakthroughs and as the asking rate mounted up the pressure was shifted to Dhoni’s side.

CSK required 26 runs to win in the final two overs, with all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran at the crease. Jadeja annihilated Prasidh Krishna in the penultimate over of the match, and the southpaw blazed 20 runs from the last four balls to reduce the equations to four runs from six balls.

It’s a known fact that if CSK are unbeatable when they play well: Virender Sehwag

Despite Sunil Narine’s dazzling over, CSK managed to cross the finishing line on the final ball. Sehwag applauded Dhoni and his men for their brilliant performance in the game but pointed out that batting first will be a challenger for them.

“They made a statement right after arriving in the UAE as they won third game on the trot. It’s a known fact that if CSK are unbeatable when they play well. However, bowling has been their weak link. Like we saw today. They could have restricted KKR to 150-160 odd runs but, they conceded 171,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz.

“If they bat first and score 160-170 runs, then they may find it difficult to defend the total because they don’t have any variety in their bowling, neither they have any mystery spinner. So, that’s what I feel, the problem is. Otherwise, they have so much depth in their batting. Shardul comes in at no. 9 or 10. If you promote him up in the order, he will definitely score like a proper batter, like he did in England.

“The biggest challenge remains when they would bat first. It has to be seen how they play then. Everyone knows CSK is much better, and you can’t have an easy win against them. You have to toil hard for the entire game. Like we say, when you face Australia, you need to play good cricket for the entire 40 overs. The same thing goes while playing against CSK,” he added.

CSK’s win against KKR takes them back to the top of the points table and will play against Sunrisers Hyderabad on September 30 in Sharjah.

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