MS Dhoni's Chennai Enter Final

[00:00:00] You're listening to the T20 Podcast with Ayaz Memon in association with Lloyd Khayal Jo Ghar Ko Ghar Banai. They've looked like the most dominant team this season, but if there's any team that knows how to play the playoffs,

[00:00:19] it's Chennai and MS Dhonis team were also playing this first qualifier at home, which meant Gujarat had the odds stacked against them despite being the team to beat this season. First things first, Shubh Mandil did not score another century since he's been on such a streak.

[00:00:35] He made 42 MS Dhoni, got to bat but scored one of the two balls he faced as Chennai posted 172 for 7, which proved more than enough as Gujarat lost by 15 runs. Chennai now through to Sunday's final, but Gujarat aren't knocked out.

[00:00:49] They get another shot at reaching the final with me. Of course, if Ayaz Memon, Ayaz just a complete class performance from Chennai tonight, right? Absolutely, very remarkable performance by Chennai. Yes, they were playing at home, but remember Gujarat had come on the back of some remarkable wins themselves,

[00:01:05] notably in the previous game before that too. And they just had such a balanced team, great depth in batting and bowling. I thought if there's one team which could upset Chennai in Chennai, make good use of the slow pitches that you get there, it would be Gujarat.

[00:01:20] And it seemed for at least big spells in the match that Gujarat might have the better of the home team, but it wasn't to begin. I think really it relounced to, I would put it to the credit of Mahindra Singh Dhoni.

[00:01:31] I know there are individual players who performed well, but nobody reads match situations and opponents better than Dhoni. And nobody handles his own resources as well. No other captain does that in the history of the IPL. Sorry, I'll say that again.

[00:01:44] In the history of the India T20 league, we've seen that year after year after year. And after finishing ninth last season, they're in the final again. So, you know, I mean, you have to doff your hat to that one man.

[00:01:54] Yes, Anayas. I will come back to you with some more questions. Let me just take you all through the scores. Ahadik Pandya put Chennai into bat first and the team looked like they had made a great start

[00:02:04] when Gaikwad was caught in the second over, but just as Darshan Al-Kandey started his celebrations, the umpire signaled for a no-ball and that was the respite Gaikwad needed as he went on to top score for Chennai with 60 before his opening partnership with Devin Conway

[00:02:22] was ended in the 11th over by Mohit Sharma. Chennai were 87 for one. Shivam Dubey fell in the next over on one and then Ajinkya and Devin fell in the 15th and 16th overs. Rahane on 17, Conway on 40th.

[00:02:37] Chennai looked to be struggling a bit at 125 for four in 15.1 overs. 47 runs though came off the last five overs with Jadeja making 22 of 16, Raidu making 17 of 9 and Amrithoni scoring just the one run off the two balls he faced.

[00:02:54] 172 for 7 is what Chennai posted with Shammi and Mohit Sharma picking two wicket feats. In reply, Gujarat's openers managed 22 before Saha got out to Deepak Jihar in the third overs. Kipahadik Pandya lasted all of seven deliveries scoring 8 before he got out to Mahesh Thiksanath.

[00:03:13] Gujarat were 41 for two in 5.5 overs but this was a team that bats deep and Shivam was still at the crease so not many were worried and then that Sinsanaka and Gill added 31 runs for the third wicket and then started the ultimate downward spiral of the Gujarat chase.

[00:03:32] Sinhaaka got out to Jadeja in the 11th over on 17, two overs later Jadeja got Miller out on four and Deepak Jihar got what's now become the biggest wicket of the league, Shubhman Gill out on 42.

[00:03:45] Gujarat were 95 for five after 14 overs needing 78 from 36 balls still with Vijay Shankar and Rahul Tiwathya at the crease but there was no comeback as such a Tiwathya fell in the 15th over to Thiksanath but then in walked Rashid Khan he smashed 30 of 16 but Chennai attacked the other end

[00:04:06] Vijay and then Nalkande getting out in the 18th over. Rashid got out in the 19th as Gujarat went on to lose by 15 runs. I asked my first question actually, you know the date Chepok was announced as the host for the first qualifier

[00:04:20] and the eliminator that's tomorrow. Chennai had sort of an added advantage didn't they? I mean this is a squad that's been built for this ground, they have a fan base that's made for such moments.

[00:04:32] A home game in a knockout is very vital and that's played, you know I mean that's played and they played with utter confidence. As Gujarat went on to lose by 15 runs, you know the date Chepok was announced as the host for the first qualifier and eliminator

[00:04:47] Chennai sort of just had an added advantage didn't they? I mean they have a squad that's built for this ground, they have a fan base, you know that's built for moments like this.

[00:04:55] I mean a home game in a knockout is very vital and they played with utter confidence. I mean not at any long stretch of the match did you think MS Dhoni wasn't in control?

[00:05:05] I mean yes the home advantage was there but home advantage also come with added pressure because then everybody expects Chennai to win and then if you don't fare well then you know the onus is on you.

[00:05:15] I mean and look at the end of the day both teams wanted to win this match to be in the final, you know a short of a place in the final. So the man in which I thought Gayakwar played a superb hand but Devan Conway was struggling.

[00:05:26] Some of the other batsmen couldn't get going, they played cameos but I think Chennai just about made the score that they would have liked.

[00:05:33] You know a 171-75 score on this Chepok pitch is always difficult for teams batting second against an attack which has got some high quality spinners and of course Dhoni behind the stumps marshaling his resources.

[00:05:46] So once they got past the 150-160 I thought yes Chennai were in with a strong chance but it all depended on how Gujarat's top order fared specially Shubman Gill. He threatened to run away with the match but it wasn't to be.

[00:05:59] And as always I always ask about your player of the games, I'll ask you about this one. Is that just the one half century? Quite a few bowlers picking two wickets each. Who do you say is the one standout performer from this game?

[00:06:11] Well I think Gayakwar was obviously a notable performer because it was such a not too many batsmen made half a century. Forget about or made too many runs. I can think of only Gayakwar and you know sorry I'll say that again.

[00:06:26] I can think of only Gayakwar and Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan towards the end getting into their 30s. Not many of the other batsmen could do that. He also took a great catch towards the end of Rashid Khan Jainty, Gayakwar.

[00:06:41] But I think the guy who actually made also very big difference was Rabindra Jadeja. He came in and played a very good hand 20 odd at that stage was you know gold dust for Chennai.

[00:06:52] And then he picked up two wickets in his four overs gave a very few runs. So he was it's a toss-up between Gayakwar and Jadeja. I would go with Gayakwar. I think the you know just making that half century was just so good for his team.

[00:07:07] It's a good thing you're not on the Govindri plan panel because I don't think you've been able to choose one player at any moment in this tournament. But anyway, no balls have been detrimental this season. Rajasthan are of course on their way back because of the no ball.

[00:07:21] Otherwise they'd been the player one would think but today as well Darshan Alkande playing his second game this season was given. Sorry he was playing his first game this season and it's his second season in the tournament.

[00:07:33] And he got the big wicket of Gayakwar and as you know you said he Gayakwar was very key in today's match for Chennai.

[00:07:40] But you know I mean it turned out to be a no ball and you know and it's a very I mean no balls are extremely important in this scheme of things. How do like teams address this now?

[00:07:49] Yeah I mean look this is one area in which most teams captains bowler themselves of course and coaches have to work overtime because it becomes so crucial. You know I mean it can make the difference between winning and losing a match.

[00:08:01] So you know I mean you get Gayakwar out early and the match could have just gone the other way. But if you bowler no ball is going to you probably lost the match because of that no ball.

[00:08:10] So this is something that will have to be examined at you know in great detail by bowling coaches and the chief coach and the captain the bowler themselves as I mentioned.

[00:08:21] I think you know there's been there's a tendency to make optimum use of the of the crease the return crease which means you know just bowl from maybe half a centimeter behind.

[00:08:31] Maybe then they need to try and practice the drill should be to bowl from two centimeters behind. So at least you are ailing on the side of caution rather than on the side of indulgence.

[00:08:41] You know you don't you're being cautious enough not to make the mistakes which may cost you a big hit. Let's just also talk about Chennai's opening partnership Devan Conway and Rutraj Gayakwar.

[00:08:51] I think we've spoken about them quite a few times this season but just his partnership the 87 run stand today because you know made them. Chennai is no successful opening pair in one season. This court 775 runs together you know this time beating Farf and Rutraj record from 20 21 or 7 56 runs.

[00:09:07] I mean it was also a partnership that was made out of necessity once they couldn't retain far for couple of years back but it's clearly looking like you know it's going to be one for the ages for them.

[00:09:16] It will and one of the reasons is because you've got a right left combination and they gel well you know the running between the witnesses go I can't remember them getting run out in the season.

[00:09:26] So yeah I mean in this match Conway struggled a bit because because of the nature of the pitch he just didn't get the ball coming on to the bat.

[00:09:35] Gayakwar was more authoritative. He's such a splendid player in front of the in front of the wickets especially in the in the V as they say.

[00:09:42] So you know he's been one of the guys who's come along marvelously for for Chennai in the last two or three seasons and now he's become the batting mainstay in many ways.

[00:09:52] So terrific opening pair 87 for the first bigot. I thought at some stage Chennai might wonder whether they had got enough or not enough because they you know after you get a start like that even if Conway was struggling they would have wanted 185 190 but 172 turned out to be more than enough as it as it happened.

[00:10:12] That's true. I mean all the Chennai's been a team that's had a few setbacks. I mean this is a franchise that bought Ben Stokes in the auction right. I mean you would have thought that guy is going to just win everything for them.

[00:10:21] If not I mean he's going to be the stellar performer for them this season. Didn't really play. He's actually already returned home to England and then over overseas overseas slots are actually taken up by you know to Sri Lankan my Tixana and Patti Haran then there's Conway and Moynihan.

[00:10:36] I mean when you compare it to any of the other teams you know even in parts if you compare just the bowling department of the batting department apart from the wicketkeeper of course this team wouldn't really on paper at the start of the season strike.

[00:10:48] You know they're going to end up being the finalists and so sure about it but then this is as MS Dhoni team building one on one as it gets right. I mean just put everybody together put the best team together and just like make it work.

[00:10:59] Yes I mean if you remember last season when they finished 9 Tixana and Palli Paritana were showing glimpses of what they could do but this season they've come into their own Moynihan has been a stalwart and you know it's amazing how Dhoni uses them sometimes sparingly sometimes the full quarter in the batting is up and down.

[00:11:17] You know he might make like he did today he might make 8 runs in forward 4 deliveries but they become valuable at that point in time. So I mean he's just as I mentioned earlier it's Dhoni's ability to handle his resources so brilliantly that makes such a big difference to his team's fortunes and I think we've seen that right through this season.

[00:11:35] When the season began as we've discussed this off in Gujarat and Rajasthan looked at two best teams and then you know they look powerful on paper Punjab had their moments and so too did Bangalore but at the end of the day it's Chennai which is first team into the final.

[00:11:53] You know I'm extremely extremely happy Chennai are in the final but I'm also scared that if there's a trophy Dhoni's hand on Sunday those retirement questions might actually get an answer.

[00:12:04] Or may not you know I mean what has happened I think is we'll have to wait and see what he decides after the final but now that it's almost become like a 12-side tournament isn't it because you've got the impact coming in.

[00:12:17] Dhoni can bat 6-8 10 deliveries in a match and still be of great value to his team just being captain along the field so we'll have to wait and see this is just open up a new vista for him maybe to extend it by the season who knows.

[00:12:33] Okay just one last question Lucknow vs Mumbai on Wednesday night again at the Chepok now the winner has to play another game before they qualify for the final I mean that's what you get for finishing third and fourth after the league stage.

[00:12:47] This Friday's match of course will move to Gujarat. Lucknow of course have adapted well after losing their skipper they won the last three of their league stage matches so they come on the heels of three straight victories.

[00:13:02] Mumbai though have had skipper Rohit Sharma get among the runs in that last league stage. Imagine you know it's an important one and how do you sort of call this one.

[00:13:10] I think Mumbai have come along splendidly in the last few games just they had I think they lost one match but won three and importantly they got Rohit back amongst the runs not really big score like Kohli and Gilded but you know half century is a half century.

[00:13:25] I mean more importantly they've had some like Akash Madwal bowling extremely well and you know in the match that was dominated by Cameron Green actually Madwal made a big difference you know in the slog overs in the death overs and then they've got Piyush Chawla who's not you know talked about as much as

[00:13:44] Rajat Khan and Heusbin Chahal and some of the others but he's been so prolific in his wicked taking. So these are guys who can be of great value to Mumbai even in Chennai and the Chepok.

[00:13:56] But of course on paper Lucknow do seem a more balanced team in the sense that they've got a finer of batsmen just as Mumbai have but they've also got a little more variety in their bowling.

[00:14:08] Yep and no second chances for these teams if they lose they're out if they win they meet Gujarat or on Friday so of course but we will be back tomorrow not on Friday with the result of that game with IAAS.

[00:14:18] Thank you so much for taking time out IAAS. Thanks Menra catch up tomorrow. That was today's episode of the T20 podcast with IAAS Memon in association with Lloyd Khyal Jo Ghar ko Ghar banai.

[00:14:30] This is a quint original podcast executive produced by Shelley Wallya and Ritu Kapoor. This episode was hosted by Menra Dorji Sahani produced and edited by Prateek Lidhu and Anjali Palore and a special thanks to our guest IAAS Memon.

[00:14:44] Stay tuned for our future episodes on your preferred podcast app.