Chennai Super Kings have slumped to their to their 5th defeat of the season. Whilst things seemed to be looking up for the titled holders following their convincing victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad, a subpar batting performance meant that the Punjab Kings easily surpassed their total of 162 with over 2 overs to spare. Several factors can be cited as the reason for this defeat. But there is one key problem that stands out. One that has affected the Chennai Super Kings in the past.
Impact Sub – Why Even Bother
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Chennai Super Kings were costing along nicely by the end of the power play, having scored 55 for no loss at the end of the 6th over. But it was all downhill from there. Following the fall of the first wicket, and as Punjab King’s spinners came on the champions couldn’t get the ball away. Entering a drab period where not a single boundary was scored off the bat for a season record of 55 deliveries.
The loss of Shivam Dube was significant. As one of the top strikers this IPL whose performance has earned him a spot in the national team, to go first ball (following the wide) a hit. Even the loss of Ravindra Jadeja cheaply was a setback, not a major one. It is not such a big blow given the depth of CSKs batting with the likes of Moeen Ali, Daryl Mitchell, and Dhoni to come. Instead of playing the natural game and sending in more experienced batters, the CSK leadership decided to throw in their impact sub, the 20-year-old Sameer Rizvi.
This proved to be a bad decision. The inexperienced impact sub who never came to grips with the pitch, managed a laborious and ultimately costly 21 off 23 balls. With a single boundary to his name. This is where the game was lost.
Chennai Super Kings – Stick to the Plan
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The use of Sameer Rizvi as an impact sub is arguably the cost of over-planing and overthinking the game. When you have a team with world-class strikers, losing a few wickets early is not going to be that costly. What is costly, however, is to send in a subpar player who uses up deliveries, slowing the run rate and putting further pressure on the players to come.
The last time Sameer Rizvi was used as an impact sub in the game against Lucknow Super Giants, he was dismissed for 1. In addition to the wisdom of using this tactic, there is also a question of form and ability. This is a subject for another. However, there is an even more important question: Are the Chennai Super Kings using the full potential of the batting strength by relying on this impact sub? This takes us to the subject of MS Dhoni.
Also Read: India World T20 Squad – Gaikwad’s Surprising Omission
MS Dhoni – Higher Up the Order?
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MS Dhnoni is the most popular player in IPL. The love and respect he commands in Indian cricket, even after his retirement from the international game is second to none. But, as his performances have shown, so has his six-hitting ability. Given the trouble CSK has had in getting the run rate moving in the middle overs, pushing Dhoni further up is worth a look.
As far as the impact sub is concerned, that place seems best reserved for proven players who can make a definite impact. So here is another potential tweak that is needed for the CSK formula. Given the fact that CSK’s season in the 2024 edition has been mixed at best, it needs to get things right quickly if they are to hold onto its trophy.
About the Author
Damian Thar writes on a range of topics. In addition to his professional work, he writes essays on subjects like philosophy, history, and culture. He also writes and edits books; in his free time, he makes videos for social commentary. You can find his work here.
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