Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bowling coach L Balaji heaped praise on Ravindra Jadeja after the all-rounder won an IPL 2021 game for his side with a sensational batting effort against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday (September 26) in Abu Dhabi.
Chasing 171 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) got a brilliant start by their openers Faf du Plessis (44), Ruturaj Gaikwad (40), but they found themselves in trouble in the middle of the 38th game in the ongoing IPL 2021.
However, Jadeja has yet again proved his worth by single-handedly taking the game away from KKR, as the left-hander stretched the game into the last over before being dismissed for 22 runs off just 8 balls in the penultimate ball of the last over.
Deepak Chahar then hit the winning run, as CSK clinched the last-ball thriller by 2 wickets against KKR to remain at the top of the IPL 14 points table.
Jadeja also scalped one wicket while conceding 21 runs in his 4 overs apart from his match-winning batting efforts to win Player of the Match against KKR on Sunday.
Balaji said during a virtual post-match press conference: “One year back in Dubai, the second game against KKR, Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) won us the game in the last year, I just recalled that game. When Ravindra Jadeja was playing, I thought he could do some magic. He has improved his game under pressure and he is showing that on the field. It is wonderful to see Jadeja coming up higher and higher in the order; his batting ability has changed over the last two years.”
He added, “In T20, anything could happen. Two wickets here and there, anything can happen. We knew that until the last ball is not bowled, anything could happen. As support staff, we were aware that we have to get it closer and closer. Our mantra is all about taking in pressure and come out positively. Every match gives you some kind of experience so it was a wonderful match to be a part of.”
On Jadeja’s bowling, the CSK bowling coach noted: “We knew how much impact Jadeja would have when there are two right-handers or there is one right-handed batter and one left-hander. Especially in the day game, Jaddu is pretty consistent with his lines towards the stumps. He does not give a free-flowing shot to the batter. This is what happened in the last game against RCB as well.”
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He concluded, “We have resources, Sam Curran has gotten well for us. Dwayne Bravo did well for us in the last two games. We want to create a much bigger pool so we go into the next match stronger. I feel Bravo deserves a bit of a break and at the same time, Sam deserved the chance he got today.”
Noteworthy, CSK will next take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the ongoing IPL 2021 on Thursday, September 30 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.
(With ANI Inputs)
