Sunil Gavaskar, a former captain of India, believes that the five-time champions Chennai Super Kings’ bowling is their main issue and exhorts the team to fix it in order to salvage their campaign.
CSK’s first two games of the season have been losses, including Friday’s five-wicket loss against Punjab Kings.
“From what we’ve seen so far, CSK’s biggest concern for the rest of the tournament will be their bowling. It means they may have to consistently score around 225–230 to give their bowlers a chance. Most teams now have significant batting depth, like we saw with Punjab Kings, where Marcus Stoinis came in at No. 7 and struck the ball cleanly with proper cricketing shots. With many sides batting deep, Chennai will need to get their bowling in order,” PTI quoted Gavaskar as saying on Star Sports.
With a 43-ball 73, young Ayush Mhatre led CSK to 209/5.
“I believe Number 3 is a good position for Ayush Mhatre. He has batted lower down the order in the Under-19 setup, but three could suit him well. He was dismissed first ball in the previous game but showed no signs of being affected by it. That’s the beauty of the ‘Gen Next’ mindset, they don’t dwell too much on the past and focus on the present. It’s a fantastic attitude,” Gavaskar said.
Additionally, Gavaskar commended Rohit Sharma for his improved fitness and how it impacted his batting.
“We’ve all seen the change in Rohit Sharma’s physical condition. He has clearly worked very hard and the rewards are visible. His footwork looks quicker, he has more energy, and that gives him more time at the crease.
“Elegant players often make batting look effortless, but that comes from preparation and hard work. Some of the shots he played recently reminded you of Rohit in his early twenties, when he made batting look ridiculously easy. It’s great to see him scoring runs again because he’s such a delightful player to watch.”
