Mastery not mystery keeps Chahal relevant

In the habit of picking wickets

- Dhiman Sarkar

KOLKATA: At 9:18pm on Wednesday came the moment most, if not all, of Chepauk was waiting for. The roar, that once had Andre Russell cupping his ears only half in jest, at the sight of MS Dhoni walking out drowned out disappointment at the end of Sam Curran's fighting knock of 88 that had given Chennai Super Kings (CSK) hope in a must-win match.

Dhoni top-edged for four the first ball he faced and when, some three minutes later, he hit Yuzvendra Chahal over long-off, Chennai felt like the fortress it once was for CSK.

To say that Chahal was up against it would be understating the obvious. For slow over-rate, Punjab Kings (PBKS) could not give him the protection of five fielders outside the circle. Dew made gripping the ball difficult. Just what you wouldn't want if you bowling leg-spin is what helps you pay bills. With Dhoni, Shivam Dube, whose strike rate against spinners was 155.35 last year and 176.47 in 2023 as per ESPNCricinfo, was at the crease. This was the innings' 19th over and CSK could have gone berserk.

Instead, Chahal triggered a collapse that scotched CSK's slender hopes of a play-off berth.