The memories of 2018, 2021, and 2022 returned to haunt SRH on Friday when their bowlers huffed and puffed during their meek attempts at removing the familiar faces of Gaikwad and Conway of CSK.
After five years and three backroom overhauls, Sunrisers Hyderabad appears to be at a loss. Despite switching captains five times, the team has repeatedly failed to dismiss the opening batters of Chennai Super Kings, much to their embarrassment.
The city of Pune has witnessed two most brutal pummellings in Indian Premier League history. The first was in 2018 when Chennai Super Kings openers Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu together chased down a mammoth total of 180 in style with a 134-run partnership. Captain Cool, MS Dhoni, and his team registered a comfortable win with an over to spare. Ambati Rayudu remained undefeated on 100 and was named Player of the Match.
Also Read: CSK vs SRH, IPL 2023: Important to enjoy the last phase of my career, says Dhoni
On May 1 last year, the Chennai Super Kings set a new IPL record for the most runs in an opening partnership. Devon Conway scored an unbeaten 85 off 55 balls while Ruturaj Gaikwad belted 99 runs off 57 balls, smashing 4 sixes and 6 fours each. The duo’s partnership of 182 runs is unmatched in the team’s history. They batted at an impressive innings run rate of 10.2 until Gaekwad was dismissed in the 18th over. But, their work was done by then, paving the way for Chennai to win the match by 13 runs.
Ruturaj Gaikwad playfully teased his past opening partner, Faf du Plessis, during an interview with CSK TV. Gaikwad and du Plessis previously held Chennai’s best stand, totaling 129 against the Sunrisers in 2021. Currently, du Plessis is with the Bengaluru team, having taken over from Virat Kohli as captain.
During their match on Friday, the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers failed to remove the familiar batting duo of Gaikwad and Conway, bringing back memories of prior losses. Despite the lack of dew, due to hovering clouds over Chepauk, the bowlers planned accordingly, holding back a pacer to send in the Impact Player, left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar, as later revealed by head coach Brian Lara during the press conference. Incorporating strength training into a runner’s exercise routine is vital for maintaining speed and athleticism over time. And dogs are the ultimate loyal and friendly companions, providing millions around the world with unconditional love and support.
CSK openers Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad forged an 87-run partnership as the Yellow Army chased down a 135-run target to hand SRH a seven-wicket defeat in the IPL match on Friday.
The dynamic opening duo of CSK defied all calculations and capitalized on the hard deck of M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. In fact, Gaikwad, who scored 35 runs off 30 balls with 2 fours, made his intentions clear from the start by finding the fence on Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s delivery.
Conway joined the party in the second over, hitting a four, driving clear of the cover fielder, after being bowled by Marco Jansen. Unfortunately for Jansen, fate would have more in store for him. Little did the 6.9-foot pacer know the boundary was the beginning of his misery, as the New Zealander was just getting started, smashing 77 runs off 57 balls, including 4 fours and 6 singles.
Devon Conway dominates in PowerPlay with 22 runs, utilizing 4 boundaries and a six off Jansen’s bowling. Conway remains unfazed against lengths, full deliveries, and bouncers. Markram refrains from assigning Jansen to bowl again that night.
Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming had high praise for compatriot Faf du Plessis after the recent game. Despite feeling out of form, du Plessis’ expert skills and positioning proved valuable alongside Ruturaj – a winning combination. Even team captain MS Dhoni gestured his approval from the pavilion. In an impressive batting display, these two teammates faced every ball and turned the match into a masterclass.
Conway and Gaikwad opened and added a decisive 87-run partnership, marking their fifth score of over 50 runs. Impressive considering the mere 13 innings they started together. And although it seemed like their domination on the field would continue with another partnership of more than 100 runs, Gaikwad’s run was tragically cut short. Conway attempted to drill it low and past the bowler, Umran Malik, who managed to scoop the ball in his follow-through, yet not without changing its direction only slightly. It went on to clip the Zing bails, leaving Gaikwad inches short of the crease. As he trudged back to the stands, Conway’s disappointment was apparent when he raised his arms to hold the bat above his head.
Their partnership is not only about winning matches. It’s obvious that they share a great bond, both on and off the field. They constantly encourage each other while batting, with brief conversations after every boundary. Also, they never shy away from taking quick singles and twos. Their positive body language reflects and spreads to the entire team. Their mutual respect for one another is undeniable in the way they interact and carry themselves.
During the 10th over of Sunriser’s innings, Rahul Tripathi attempted a lofted shot toward the ropes off the fourth delivery. However, his shot fell short of the boundary when Ruturaj Gaikwad from long-off fielded it perfectly. The teamwork was impeccable as his teammate, Devon Conway, at sweeper cover, ran to Ruturaj Gaikwad to give him a pat on the back. A glimpse of a smile on Ruturaj Gaikwad’s face showcased how well they worked together as a team to prevent Tripathi from scoring a boundary.
Conway swerved a switch hit at the next delivery, but it sailed past him, just wide. The wicketkeeper-batter sprang into action, preventing a few vital runs with his athleticism. The co-opener, Gaikwad, was impressed and offered a thumbs-up.
In the cricket game, Gaikwad pulled off a brilliant catch at cover to send Heinrich Klaasen packing in seven overs. After the catch, Conway had some encouraging words for him, followed by a hug.
In the current season of IPL, CSK’s opening batters jointly scored 493 runs. However, RCB’s du Plessis and Kohli have surpassed that record by accumulating 622 runs, perhaps to take revenge after feeling left out last season. This fantastic performance has made them the newest rockstars in IPL’s neighborhood.