IPL 2024: Points table | Results
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad admitted that the team “lost momentum” in a few games because of lack of wickets and bowling impact in the first six overs. But pacer Tushar Deshpande put the concerns to bed by breaking the back of the Sunrisers batting line-up during a splendid spell.
After being blasted for two sixes in his first three deliveries – one each by Head and Abhishek – the 28-year-old staged a stunning comeback with a three-wicket burst in his first spell.
Deshpande kept the ball away from the hitting arcs of the opening batters and the decision to bowl well outside the off-stump “paid dividends” as Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma fell cheaply.
“We had a specific plan. If they hit a good ball, our plan was to bowl another good ball. We did not change according to them (SRH batters). In this format (T20), I need to dictate terms to the batters. I tried to do that,” said Deshpande, whose match-influencing figures of 4-27 steered CSK to a comfortable victory at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
“This format demands you to be brave in the powerplay. We are seeing many highscoring games. The only thing that can derail batting lineups is wickets. I always felt that one wicket could change the momentum of the game in the powerplay. Both the Sunrisers openers are in terrific form and it worked out for me,” Deshpande added.
After making a poor start, staying calm and avoiding panic was the key. Deshpande did just that and reaped the rewards.
“When I came to bowl, the only plan was to stay patient against a batting lineup like SRH, which is very aggressive in the powerplay. With the dew coming into play, it was always going to be a challenge for the bowlers. But I backed myself and stayed patient with my line and length in the powerplay,” said Deshpande.