Before the RCB-CSK match, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan said in an interview with Star Sports that while CSK has a long history of success in high-stakes scenarios, they are currently facing a number of challenges. CSK’s problems included player exits, injuries, and the significant development that MS Dhoni, who had been captain since the IPL began, had given up the captaincy.
In addition, Pathan made reference to the unsatisfactory 2022 Indian Premier League season in which CSK lost six of their eight games following Ravindra Jadeja‘s dismissal as captain. This implied what would happen to Jadeja from his position as captain. He hinted that Ruturaj Gaikwad would encounter a similar circumstance in the upcoming IPL season if he is unable to lead the side to the playoffs this year.
After placing in the top two spots on the points table in eight of the fifteen Indian Premier League seasons that the Chennai Super Kings have participated in, in addition to winning the championship in their franchise-record fifth IPL victory in 2023, both the management and fans of the team would have anticipated that CSK would easily make it to another postseason. That is, however, very different from reality, since CSK’s team’s performance follows an oscillating pattern.
CSK displayed an erratic performance pattern in the IPL 2024, marked by wins and defeats that alternated. The series started with a win and continued with another, indicating a positive beginning for the group. But then they lost both of the next two games in a row, which stopped them in their tracks. CSK showed resiliency and commitment by winning two straight games, recovering swiftly. However, two straight losses ended this streak once more, demonstrating their inconsistent play. The pattern of their last five games was the same: a win followed by a loss.
“CSK has a history of being the squad that prevails in pivotal situations. But they currently face a great deal of problems. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, their new captain, is no longer in charge because to injury concerns. He’s not the captain, even if you may have seen him periodically setting the pitch. You may recall that when [Ravindra] Jadeja commanded the side, things didn’t work out well; the same thing may occur once more. The supporters of CSK will be hoping that they overcome these problems and secure the vital two points, according to Pathan.
RCB is moving forward, and it’s moving solidly: Irfan Pathan
Going forward, Irfan Pathan stated that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru had the advantage because of their incredible comeback in the second half of the season, winning five games in a row and building momentum from recent successes, even though the virtual knockout presented a whole new challenge and wouldn’t be an easy task. He added that RCB might be a serious threat to other teams in the knockout stage if they win the next game and earn a playoff berth.
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Nothing is simple. It won’t be simple for either team. RCB has a strong momentum at this point. And if they prevail, the side with the most momentum is the most dangerous,” Irfan Pathan continued.
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