Former Chennai Super Kings opener Matthew Hayden was critical of the team’s decision to use medium-pace allrounder Shivam Dube in the penultimate over of the run-chase in the Indian Premier League game against Lucknow Super Giants on March 31.
The Australian feels LSG got their victory served on a platter courtesy of Dube’s dibbly-dobblies towards the end of the game in Mumbai. Needing 34 off the last 12 balls, defending Premier League champions smashed Dube for 25 runs in the 19th over and tilted the scales decisively in their favour.
On a flat batting surface with dew making it tough for CSK spinners to grip the ball, the side perhaps had a legitimate reason to opt for Dube in the 19th over. But Hayden felt they should have backed Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali a lot more. The spin duo bowled a combined total of three overs in the run-chase.
“Moeen Ali bowled just one over. He got smashed for 14 but guess what. That’s what it’s like playing on these really dewy wickets. It’s really wet; imagine trying to bowl with that ball. It’s not easy. And Shivam Dube as well… medium pacer, I mean that is just like serving cake to a little kindergarten kid. And Evin Lewis was just on fire,”
Hayden said on Star Sports.
To be fair to Dube, being a batting allrounder, the cricketer wouldn’t have anticipated being thrown into the deep end of waters like that with his underdeveloped secondary skill. The youngster had hammered an impressive 30-ball 49 earlier in the match to help Chennai reach a daunting score of 210/7.
A score in excess of 200 should have been enough despite a wet outfield and flat pitch had CSK’s main bowlers executed their skills well and fielders grabbed the chances.
“CSK were also a little untidy on the field, remember that. Remember they dropped a few catches. Quinton de Kock got dropped off Bravo, that would have been the highest wicket-taking delivery. That didn’t happen.”
“Also, Jadeja bowled just two overs, potentially he could have just managed Bravo to get him into that 17th, 19th over by bowling some additional overs.”
Pakistan batting coach pointed out.
Having lost their first two matches, the Super Kings next play Punjab Kings on April 4 at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
