Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra slammed Chennai Super Kings’ batting after they suffered a crushing eight-wicket loss against Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati on Monday.
CSK was bowled out for a paltry score of 127 after they were put into bat by RR captain Riyan Parag. Chopra called out Shivam Dube for playing an aggressive shot after hitting Ravindra Jadeja for a six, one ball earlier.
CSK kept losing wickets at regular intervals and could not get any impetus in their batting innings. Jamie Overton top-scored with 43 runs but none of the other batters could breach the 20-run mark.
CSK got off to a worse possible start as they were reduced to 38-4 in the Powerplay overs and from there on, they never recovered.
“Both (Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson) have decided to open. They have done that, but things became worse as they lost the toss, there was help on the pitch, Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger started very well, and you lost four wickets in the powerplay. Whichever team loses four wickets in the powerplay, it’s next to impossible to recover from there,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“We are talking about the tournament where 200-220 have been chased easily, and there you scored 127. Wickets kept falling continuously, and there will be a question there. Shivam Dube, you will have to take a little responsibility. You had hit a six off the first ball. What was the need to hit again? You will have to play a little more carefully. Chennai, as a batting unit, was quite pedestrian – shot selection, ultra-aggressive approach,” he added.
Chopra highlighted that CSK has a young team and the injury woes is rubbing salt to the wound.
“When you pivoted towards the youngsters, there was a realization that the job won’t be easy. When you make radical changes, you lack consistency. Problems were already there, and the problem of injuries on top of that. Nathan Ellis, MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis are out, and the replacement you took for an injured player is also injured. You have replaced Nathan Ellis with Spencer Johnson,” he said.
The renowned commentator also questioned CSK’s auction strategy for picking Matthew Short as the only overseas batter, apart from Dewald Brevis.
“I am still unable to understand that. Chennai, what are you doing? What is the thought process? You have only one overseas batting option apart from Dewald Brevis. Have you done your auctions right? When you are taking so many youngsters, you also know you might have to make a pivot at some stage, but you kept only Matthew Short,” Chopra observed.
Chennai Super Kings will next take on Punjab Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Friday.
