“We had a specific plan that even if they hit us from a good ball we will try and focus on bowling that good ball again,” Deshpande mentioned. “We won’t change according to them. As bowlers in this format, I need to dictate the terms to the batters. I tried to do that and it paid dividends today.”
Deshpande’s strikes with the brand new ball have been vital as a result of CSK got here into the sport with solely 9 powerplay wickets in IPL 2024, the bottom amongst all groups. He dismissed Travis Head and Anmolpreet Singh with full deliveries within the second over after which examined Abhishek Sharma with a brief-ball dismissal within the fourth over. From that place of 40 for 3, SRH may solely muster 134 in 18.5 overs.
“The only plan was to keep bowling and having patience against a batting line-up like SRH who are very aggressive in the powerplay. So that paid dividends for us,” he mentioned. “I think bowling that length in the powerplay is very crucial. Even if the batsman is hitting, I always back myself to bowl that ball again. So I challenge the batsman to hit me again on that length. That’s my mindset always and it worked out today.”
“That was one area where [in the last] two-three games we lost momentum, not getting enough wickets in the powerplay,” Gaikwad mentioned. “Wickets in the powerplay with the impact player rule definitely puts pressure on the opposition. It is the only way you can put the opposition on the back foot. Yes [Deshpande] he bowled really well and he’s doing hard work throughout the season. Even last year and previous to that, he’s been doing well and his hard work is paying off.
“Special point out to Jaddu [Jadeja] as nicely. In these moist situations, 4 overs for 20-25 [22] odd runs, for me that was the match-turning spell.”
Gaikwad also addressed concerns over his fitness after needing the physio during his innings of 98 and later while fielding. He said that batting long in the last few innings, together with fielding in humid conditions, did take a toll.
“It is simply that… too sizzling and humid situations,” Gaikwad said. “Even within the final recreation I was there all through [batting] for 20 overs and fielding for 20 overs. Even immediately I was there for nearly 19 overs, so little bit robust to breathe however I was simply ensuring I take my time and not likely rush myself.”