The time for introspection may have already begun for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Barring a remarkable turnaround — the side needs a minimum of five wins from its remaining seven matches — this popular team seems headed for an exit before the semifinals of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Cricket can teach you harsh lessons and CSK's disastrous four-match losing streak began from a situation when the side required one run off the final two deliveries at Chepauk. It should have been a waltz in the park. Instead, CSK made a mess of it.
Kings XI Punjab's Irfan Pathan — not the most threatening of bowlers — not only restricted R. Ashwin from scoring but also had him caught at mid-off off the last ball. All that CSK needed at that a stage was a hectic single — the block and run tactic could have worked — with the non-striker giving a start.
Bad shot
Instead, there was hardly any conversation between the two batsmen in the middle before Ashwin's ill-advised shot. The big-hitting Albie Morkel was left stranded at the other end. The contest should never have gone into the Super Over. Three games later, CSK remains on four points.
There are serious questions regarding the composition of the team. Where are the incisive pacemen? Off-spinning wizard Muttiah Muralitharan has bowled with heart and skill but there has been little support for him. More than any batsman, this team relies too heavily on Muralitharan's craft.
Left-arm paceman Doug Bollinger will join the side soon. He is a consistent, competent bowler but is he coming to the team too late in the day?
While it is true that CSK is largely driven by batting, the failure of its bowling has put too much pressure on its strongest flank. There has been little discipline or penetration in the side's pace attack. The side has conceded ground at the start, leaked runs at the ‘death'.
CSK should have done better at the player auction before IPL III. It knew by then that the injured Andrew Flintoff would not be available. Yet, CSK opted for Justin Kemp, essentially a heavy-hitting batsman who can also bowl, as Flintoff's replacement.
Flintoff can hustle the batsmen with his lift and unleash deadly yorkers at the death. CSK needed Flintoff's bowling more than batting. It should have gone for an explosive pace bowler at the auction, someone who could have added firepower to the attack. Kemp's bowling is no more than pedestrian. It is dangerous to ignore bowling, even in Twenty20 cricket.
Not worth the risk
Of course, Jacob Oram, forever battling fitness concerns, is not around either. Perhaps, CSK, from the next auction, should take a resolution not to sign cricketers with a history of injuries. Flintoff and Oram are two prime examples since it is not worth the risk.
There have been other issues. The injury to Dhoni — forcing the skipper to miss three games — could not have come at a worse time. Yet, Dhoni, on his return, erred by giving the inexperienced paceman, Thissara Perera, an over at a critical stage of Mumbai Indians' chase in the crucial away game. There was no comeback for CSK in that match.
Matthew Hayden — 215 runs in seven matches at 30.71 — whipped up a match-winning 93 against Delhi Daredevils but then consistency has eluded him.
The side's batting would be beefed up by the return of the solid Michael Hussey. But then, CSK has a steep mountain to climb.
