IPL 2024: Gaikwad’s captaincy was most impressive against RCB – Gavaskar
Chennai Super Kings. Photo: Sportzpics
Legendary Sunil Gavaskar is extremely impressed with new Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and praised him for the way he maneuvered his bowlers during the IPL opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru here.
“Absolutely! Your debut as captain is going to be very important. You want to start your captaincy career well with a win and that is exactly what happened. What was impressive was his bowling changes,” the former India skipper told Star Sports.
“Because you saw how he kept changing Mustafizur; the way he used Mustafizur was absolutely amazing. He kept exchanging Deepak Chahar and kept faith in Tushar Deshpande for that final.
“I think given that Tushar Deshpande was taken for 25, there was an opportunity to bring in another bowler, but he still stuck with Tushar Deshpande, and Deshpande responded with a brilliant final over. So yeah , I think the captaincy was the most impressive.”
Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman produced a great show and returned with his best IPL figures of 4/29, rattling RCB’s top position before they reached 173/6.
View the full schedule of the Indian Premier League 2024 here
Gavaskar also feels that Dhoni’s presence has made a big difference.
“And we see here that of course he has MS Dhoni around him, to guide him, to tell him and to encourage him. Sometimes that little nod from someone as experienced and skilled as MSD makes a big difference.” he said.
Gavaskar feels RCB kept bowling the short ball far too often even when it wasn’t working.
“Yes, try the short ball, but when it didn’t work… it seemed like that was all they wanted to do. You had someone like a Dagar, who had bowled two overs for six and six runs. I I know how the left spinner can be picked for 6, but you have to take a chance,” he said.
“All they did, Joseph, Green, Siraj, everyone comes up short. What happened was if you don’t get the bouncer right, you’re going to give him a wide, which means you’re giving an extra run, you’re going bowling an extra delivery.
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First print: March 23, 2024 | 4:02 pm IST