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Ruturaj Gaikwad attributes Marcus Stoinis’ exceptional performance in Chennai to the ‘Dew Factor’ – IPL 2024
In a match where Chennai Super Kings (CSK) posted a formidable total of 210 runs while batting first, the outcome was unexpected, especially with CSK’s strong bowling lineup, the leadership of MS Dhoni, and the support of the enthusiastic Chepauk crowd.
Marcus Stoinis delivered a performance akin to Jos Buttler’s heroics, reminiscent of the latter’s standout performance for Rajasthan Royals (RR) against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Stoinis replicated this feat against CSK on Tuesday evening.
Ruturaj Gaikwad appeared to struggle against Marcus Stoinis right from the beginning, focusing more on saving his key bowler, Matheesha Pathirana’s overs for the later stages of Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) innings rather than targeting Stoinis’ wicket. Stoinis, on the other hand, played intelligently, preserving his wicket and selecting his shots carefully.
The Australian power-hitter took advantage of the dew factor and capitalized on loose deliveries from other bowlers to compensate for Matheesha Pathirana’s economical overs. Meanwhile, Nicholas Pooran’s quick innings provided the spark LSG needed after Devdutt Padikkal’s dismissal.
After the game, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad attributed the team’s loss to the dew factor.
“We had control of the game until the 13th or 14th over, but Stoinis played an exceptional innings. The dew factor played a role; there was a significant amount of dew, which affected our spinners’ effectiveness. We could have managed the game better and taken it to a closer finish. However, these are aspects of the game that we cannot control,” Ruturaj commented after the game.
CSK finds itself in a challenging position after suffering two consecutive losses against LSG. The team also faced defeat in their first home game of the season. CSK will now look to bounce back when they face Sunrisers Hyderabad in their next game.
