Ravindra Jadeja's captaincy journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 got off to a rocky start. The Chennai Super Kings(CSK) lost their first two matches under his guidance, to the Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR) and the Lucknow Super Giants(LSG), respectively, for the first time in 15 years. With a negative net run rate of -0.528, the CSK are in eighth place on the points standings.
With the new group of players, finding the right balance in the team appears to be a difficult assignment for the defending champions. So far, the top-order hasn't fired enough. Ruturaj Gaikwad, the winner of the Orange cap last year, failed to score in both games. At the same time, as Devon Conway struggled in the first match against KKR, the squad had to elevate Robin Uthappa up the order.
All of these circumstances have put Ravindra Jadeja, the team's new leader, under pressure. Even if MS Dhoni's return to form is a positive indication for the squad, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri believes that the openers must lead the way before it's too late.
Shastri told the media that when both openers fail to deliver, it's cause for alarm. Because they have lost two games, it is critical for one of the openers to get back on track as quickly as possible. There is a new captain in command, and he's feeling the heat. Yes, Dhoni is in good form, but if one of those openers fails to score, CSK would struggle to win this event.
Shastri, who came back to the commentary box after a seven-year absence, believes Gaikwad should be particularly cautious the next time he takes his guard.
He commented that Ruturaj needs to take some time for himself. He's a good ball timer, and because he has so many shots, he can make up for his poor beginnings later. The runs will come naturally if he is a little cautious at first and gets used to the pace of the wicket. These pitches are ideal for batting practise. This year's wicket has more bounce than last year's, and the ball is coming onto the bat wonderfully.
With the new group of players, finding the right balance in the team appears to be a difficult assignment for the defending champions. So far, the top-order hasn't fired enough. Ruturaj Gaikwad, the winner of the Orange cap last year, failed to score in both games. At the same time, as Devon Conway struggled in the first match against KKR, the squad had to elevate Robin Uthappa up the order.
All of these circumstances have put Ravindra Jadeja, the team's new leader, under pressure. Even if MS Dhoni's return to form is a positive indication for the squad, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri believes that the openers must lead the way before it's too late.
Shastri told the media that when both openers fail to deliver, it's cause for alarm. Because they have lost two games, it is critical for one of the openers to get back on track as quickly as possible. There is a new captain in command, and he's feeling the heat. Yes, Dhoni is in good form, but if one of those openers fails to score, CSK would struggle to win this event.
Shastri, who came back to the commentary box after a seven-year absence, believes Gaikwad should be particularly cautious the next time he takes his guard.
He commented that Ruturaj needs to take some time for himself. He's a good ball timer, and because he has so many shots, he can make up for his poor beginnings later. The runs will come naturally if he is a little cautious at first and gets used to the pace of the wicket. These pitches are ideal for batting practise. This year's wicket has more bounce than last year's, and the ball is coming onto the bat wonderfully.