Nicholas Pooran is batting like a dream. He’s placing at 215.43 per 100 balls. He’s grow to be a six-hitting outlier — his common of 5.1 sixes per match this season is the very best within the IPL historical past amongst those that’ve hit no less than 20 sixes in a season.
But for Chennai Super Kings, which takes on Lucknow Super Giants on the Ekana Stadium right here on Monday, his batting poses a massive risk. How does CSK negate a batter who has single-handedly hit almost as many sixes (31) as all its batters have collectively managed to (32)? How do the CSK spinners tame a spin-slayer who strikes spin at 272.46 with 22 sixes?
The Super Kings might need an fascinating match-up, although. Pooran has been dismissed twice in three innings and has scored solely two runs off eight balls within the IPL against its left-arm wrist spinner and Purple Cap-holder Noor Ahmad.
But, for that to play out, CSK has to first undergo Mitchell Marsh if he performs. It has to include Marsh and his opening accomplice Aiden Markram within the PowerPlay.
Forget about LSG’s batting riches, CSK has to restore its personal batting. How does it maximise and not lose too many wickets within the PowerPlay? How does it continuously hit fours and sixes? How does it not play too many dot balls? How does it string collectively no less than one substantial partnership?
These may appear T20 101, however sadly what the five-time champion contends with.
CSK does strive, however does it strive laborious sufficient?
Because, even for the cosmos to collude with it, CSK must be difficult sufficient.
Published – April 13, 2025 05:38 pm IST
