Chennai Super Kings leapfrogged to the third position in the standings of the 2024 season of the Indian Premier League with their 78-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad led by example as he starred with a spectacular 98-run knock and was ably supported by Kiwi batter Daryl Mitchell, who made 52 runs to bolster CSK to a total of 212 runs before Tushar Deshpande’s four-fer wrapped up SRH’s innings for 134 runs.
Mitchell played a crucial role in the win as he partnered with captain Gaikwad to settle the innings and put the hosts on course for the big total. It was also a memorable outing for the Kiwi allrounder on the field as he picked up five catches as well.
Following the conclusion of the triumph, CSK batting coach Mike Hussey lauded the 32-year-old and opined that the New Zealand player has struck the right chord with the team and its culture with time and trial.
“It is not easy as a new player to come into the team, him and Rachin Ravindra for that matter,” the former Chennai opener said.
“We expect them to be able to just come and fit in straight away, feel like they belong and perform from the get-go. But the reality is different. This is the IPL, the best T20 contest in the world and it takes time,” he elucidated.
“We feel like he has been playing well, not being able to get the big score but contributing well along the way.” He has had to move up and down the batting order as well and that can be destabilizing for him as well. But, I think he has found a nice role at No.3 and he can feel comfortable in that role,” he added.
Stay updated with the latest from IPL 2024, including top contenders for the IPL 2024 Orange Cap and IPL 2024 Purple Cap. Explore the complete IPL 2024 Schedule, IPL 2024 Points Table and players with the Most Sixes, Most Fours and Most Fifties in IPL 2024
Hussey says that the Mitchell has started to settle in well and expressed his commendation for the batter’s fifty on the day that proved decisive.
“He has been here for like a month and a half now, so we are starting to get to know him and he is starting to get to know us. He’s understanding the team a bit more. So hopefully this is the beginning of some consistent form for him,” Hussey said .
“Fantastic knock tonight, he looked really confident. He has been training well and is in a good head space. It is a matter of him coming out there in the middle, he had the opportunity today and he built a fantastic partnership alongside Ruturaj” Hussey concluded.
Comments
0 comment