On Thursday (March 31), defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) suffered their second defeat in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 when the Ravindra Jadeja-led team failed to defend a mammoth 210-run total against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
It was KL Rahul's team's maiden IPL victory, thanks in large part to Evin Lewis' scorching 55*, which included three sixes and six fours. Ayush Badoni, 22, an IPL rookie, also contributed with a nine-ball 19* with two sixes to assist the IPL entrants to cross the finish line. Rahul himself scored 40, while wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock made 61.
The game turned dramatically in the penultimate over, which was bowled by CSK all-rounder Shivam Dube, who conceded 25 runs to make the LSG's task lot easier.
Lucknow needed just nine runs off the last over, and seamer Mukesh Choudhary bowled a pair of wides before Badoni struck a six to tie the game and then hit the winning runs.
It's the first time in IPL history that the four-time champions have lost both of their first two games, and supporters have already begun asking for Dhoni's return as captain. However, it appears that Dhoni is already tugging the strings in the current leadership position. Many experts, including former CSK star Parthiv Patel, believe that current captain Ravindra Jadeja should make the decisions since he would learn from his mistakes.
“If you want to develop someone, you've to give him freedom on the field. Adding C to the name doesn't make him the captain of the team. He (Jadeja) will make mistakes... but will learn from them as well.
“I feel if you want to develop Jadeja as a player and captain, you've got to let him take decisions. If the situation is too tight, we understand why he (Dhoni) took over. The way cameras were moving, it seemed like Dhoni was controlling the game,” Parthiv told Cricbuzz.
Also Read: IPL 2022: Quinton de Kock pleased with LSG's first IPL win
Just a few days before the season opener against Kolkata Knight Riders, Dhoni, 40, opted to pass up the captaincy of Chennai to Jadeja. Since the tournament's start in 2008, the talismanic skipper has helped the squad become one of the most successful teams in the IPL. Dhoni had led CSK to their fourth title last season, but his departure from the leadership group wasn't wholly unexpected, especially given his age.
Jadeja, who became a mainstay in India's cricket establishment under Dhoni's captaincy, had said he's confident in his ability to "fill in the big boots" following his appointment. Before the auction, the Saurashtra all-rounder was CSK's top retention, ahead of Dhoni, Moeen Ali, and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Chennai Super Kings will face Punjab Kings at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, while looking for their first win of the IPL 15 season.
