IPL 2020: Conditions suited the balance of our side – Faf du Plessis

Chennai Super Kings have always relied on the performances of their spinners for their success over the years in the IPL.

Their home ground at Chepauk has mostly provided assistance to their spinners and they have delivered the goods for the team. However, it wasn’t an ideal season for CSK as they failed to qualify for the playoff stages for the first time in 11 appearances in the league.

CSK were able to get a consoling win against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The MS Dhoni-led team dominated as they kept a tight leash on the RCB batsmen. RCB could only manage to post a sub par total of 145 runs on the board as CSK spinners were right on the money.

The pitch was on the slower side and it wasn’t the easiest of surfaces to bat on. CSK had played three spinners – Mitchell Santner, Imran Tahir and Ravindra Jadeja in the final XI and all of them bowled economical spells. The trio conceded 73 runs in the 11 overs they bowled and also scalped a wicket.

Furthermore, Sam Curran varied his pace and scalped three wickets. Deepak Chahar was also right on the money for CSK as he took two wickets.

On the other hand, CSK came up with a complete batting performance. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis provided a fine partnership and Ambati Rayudu also scored a vital knock of 39 runs. Gaikwad went on to score a match winning knock of 65 runs to help his team get over the finishing line.

Faf du Plessis said in the post-match ceremony, “Obviously playing on the day you could see that the wicket was a little bit slower. The balance of our side, slowish conditions, brings the best out of the resources we have in our team. We played three really good spinners today and they bowled really well against a very strong RCB batting line up. To restrict them to a score we did was a real good effort from our bowlers.

Chennai haven’t been able to come up with consistent performances with neither bat nor ball but they were able to deliver a complete performance against RCB. CSK would aim to turn the tables in the next season and they might look to rope in some young players in IPL 2021 auctions.

CSK will play their next match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 29th October.