The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL 2022 opening match on March 26 in Wankhede. It was a debut match for Ravindra Jadeja as CSK captain and for Shreyas Iyer as KKR captain.
However, former cricketers Matthew Hayden and Ravi Shastri felt that the four-time IPL champions CSK looked uneasy with Jadeja as their captain.
MS Dhoni relinquished CSK captaincy two days before the IPL 2022 tournament opener and for Jadeja, it was the first time captaining a team at this level and it showed in the franchise’s performance.
CSK looked rusty as they struggled to get going at the start of their innings but managed to post 131/5 in 50 overs which mainly thanks to a half-century from MS Dhoni. However, KKR chased down the target with 6 wickets in hand and 9 balls to spare to earn two points.
Former Chennai Super Kings and Australia opener Matthew Hayden said he was not impressed by CSK’s performance in the IPL 2022 opener.
"Even the nervousness they felt with Rav (Ravindra Jadeja) as captain it was so unlike CSK in many ways. I am getting a little nervous about CSK. They have got a new captain, a completely different outfit, some old heads there but there's also a lot to prove. Also, there's a lot to make up, especially after the opening night's performance," Hayden told Star Sports.
"They have to get on a roll, that top-order. You saw Faf (Faf du Plessis) last year and Ruturaj Gaikwad last year, they have to replicate that somehow. Robin (Uthappa) can't stop with cameo innings, he has got to be the man who will bat right through the innings for CSK. Some big changes are needed, some big ground to make up for. Some challenging times ahead, I sense,” Hayden added.
On the other hand, former India coach Ravin Shastri said that Jadeja needs to be more proactive and braver and bowl himself a lot earlier than he did on Saturday against KKR. Jadeja brought himself on to the attack only in the 11th over and did a decent job, giving away just 25 runs on a dewy evening, but he went wicketless.
"Jadeja, for me, as a captain, has to be a little braver when it comes to when to bowl. Sometimes, as a captain, and when you're a premier bowler, you tend to hold yourself back. There has to be someone there to tell him, you gotta bowl. You're good enough to get wickets.
And I thought that they were over late. Instead of Shivam Dube in that over, it should've been experienced bowlers, Jadeja or Santner. You know because when you're defending 130, it's one mistake that can cost you. You know one over of 14 or 15 runs, that can let the game slip over," Shastri said.
CSK will next face off against Lucknow Super Giants on March 31 in Brabourne Stadium.
