Former Indian cricketing stalwart Sunil Gavaskar lauded Ruturaj Gaikwad’s captaincy debut for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2024 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Mustafizur Rahman shone on his debut for CSK, securing four wickets in the first ten balls of his spell. CSK triumphed over RCB by six wickets, restricting them to 173 runs.
Gaikwad’s strategic acumen was evident as he effectively utilized his bowlers, particularly Mustafizur Rahman, and showed faith in Tushar Deshpande during a crucial phase. Gavaskar praised Gaikwad’s composure and decision-making, crediting the influence of MS Dhoni in guiding the young skipper.
Speaking on Star Sports show Cricket Live, Gavaskar remarked on Gaikwad’s impressive captaincy, “He kept swapping Deepak Chahar, keeping faith in Tushar Deshpande for that final over… the captaincy was most impressive.” Despite RCB’s aggressive use of short balls, Gavaskar noted the one-dimensional nature of their strategy, which ultimately proved costly in the match.
Australian legend Steve Smith highlighted CSK’s advantage in playing at their home ground, effectively controlling RCB’s batting lineup. Mustafizur Rahman’s stellar performance and contributions from the entire CSK squad secured a comprehensive win for the Yellow Army. Smith described the match as an ideal start for Chennai.
In conclusion, Sunil Gavaskar and Steve Smith praised CSK’s strong performance in their IPL 2024 opener, commending Gaikwad’s captaincy debut and the team’s strategic play. The victory over RCB highlighted CSK’s strengths and set a positive tone for their campaign in the tournament.
