IPL 2020: belated good news for Ruturaj Gaikwad and Chennai Super Kings

Victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore offers some cheer in a difficult campaign

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  ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE RATINGS: Devdutt Padikkal – 6. The first of many to fall prey to Du Plessis on the boundary rope – even though it was Gaikwad who got the credit for the relayed catch. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Aaron Finch – 5. Took the initiative on a slow pitch by walking down at the bowlers, but it was his undoing against Curran. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Virat Kohli – 7. Took all his might to counter the slowness of the wicket with some powerful straight driving. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  AB de Villiers – 6. Contributed 39 to an 82-run stand with Kohli, but the fact his strike rate was down at 108.33 was a clue to how tough the going was. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Moeen Ali – 4. Restored to the XI in place of Isuru Udana, he fell cheaply with the bat to his England colleague Curran. Ineffective with the ball. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Chris Morris – 5. Some way short of his recent excellence, as his early looseness helped Chennai’s openers get off to a fine start. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Gurkeerat Singh – 5. A run-a-ball knock of two not out at the end of the innings was all the action he saw. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Washington Sundar – 6. He was thrifty enough, going for 27 off his four overs, but he might have been more of a threat given the conditions. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Navdeep Saini – 6. Barely troubled the Chennai batsmen in three overs that cost 19. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Yuzvendra Chahal – 7. Not for the first time in this competition, the India leg-spinner was a class above his bowling colleagues, as he took one for 21. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Mohammed Siraj – 4. Back down to earth after his heroics against Kolkata Knight Riders last time out as his two overs cost 29 this time. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  CHENNAI SUPER KINGS RATINGS: Ruturaj Gaikwad – 9. Finally, a glimpse of why he is so highly regarded. After two ducks in his previous two innings, he settled his nerves with two catches, then made a sparkling half-century. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Faf du Plessis – 7. Two catches, and half of another one, in a masterclass of boundary riding, and then made a bold start to the chase, too. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Ambati Rayudu – 7. Maybe not 100 per cent – judged by the lengthy comfort break he took – but he has rarely hit the ball more crisply this season. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  MS Dhoni – 6. Looked relieved to be able to have a dash at the end of the innings, with the win as good as in the bag. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Narayan Jagadeesan – 5. Missed out on a chance for some time at the crease when Dhoni leapfrogged above him in the batting order. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Ravindra Jadeja – 6. Three overs for 20 with the ball, and his effervescence in the field gave RCB’s running between the wickets a nervy look, too. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Sam Curran – 7. Did not bowl at all in the humbling in Sharjah last time out, but bounced back with three for 19 this time. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Mitchell Santner – 7. Made expert use of conditions with his left-arm spin on his first appearance of the season, as he took one for 23 from four. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Deepak Chahar – 8. For once he was not kept exclusively for the start – and he bowled a good 20th over, too, in taking two for 31 in all. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Imran Tahir – 5. Relatively unthreatening by his standards, and his fielding – even off his own bowling – was short of the mark. Sportzpics for BCCI

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  Monu Kumar – 4. Looked very nervy on his season debut, as three wides and one no-ball testifies. Only given two overs, which went for 20. Sportzpics for BCCI

After a tournament in which most things that could go wrong have done for Ruturaj Gaikwad, the highly-rated batsman was finally afforded some cheer.

The 23-year-old batsman hit his maiden IPL half-century, as well a six to seal a comfortable eight-wicket win for Chennai Super Kings over Royal Challengers Bangalore in Dubai.

The result will have no material affect on the competition: Chennai are destined for the exit, while Bangalore are getting ready for a run at a maiden title.

It was, though, some belated good news for a side who have faced a series of troubles this term – starting a month before the season started when Gaikwad was one of a number of personnel who tested positive for Covid.

Gaikwad had been pencilled in as the long-term replacement for Suresh Raina, the Chennai stalwart who dramatically opted out of the competition amid the spate of Covid positives.

His extended quarantine meant he – like his side as a whole – were ill-prepared for the campaign. He made two ducks and a five in the three games he played before facing RCB.

He showed his class, though, in making 65 not out to take Chennai past Bangalore’s total of 145-6 on a tired wicket at the Dubai International Stadium.

“It was tough for me going into quarantine for more days than the rest of the team because of Covid,” Gaikwad said after he was named man of the match.

“I got support from everybody. I knew a knock was always around the corner.

“It was a little bit slow, but I was picking up the gaps. And I was pro-active to pick which bowlers to attack and which to not.”

Coincidentally, the tone was set by the bowling of Deepak Chahar – the other player to test positive for coronavirus at the start of the campaign.

He took two wickets, and Sam Curran three, as Chennai picked up their fourth win in 12 matches.

“You have to enjoy the game no matter where you are on the table,” MS Dhoni, Chennai’s captain, said.

“If you are not enjoying the cricket, it can become cruel and painful. So I am glad with how the youngsters have responded.”

Virat Kohli made a third half-century of the season, but was unimpressed by how his side had fared.

“What you saw in the second innings wasn't a true reflection of how difficult the pitch was,” said Kohli, after Chennai eased to the win with just two wickets lost.

“We didn't hit the right areas, there were too many boundary balls.

“They bowled really well. We hardly got any drive balls from them. We were looking for 150, but we were happy with 145.

“We just didn't bowl enough slower balls. No change of pace, no bouncers. We saw how difficult it was to get under those slower balls.”