“Even after our second and third games, there were talks suggesting we were optimistic, and both Fleming and I believed we were closer to our goal than last year. I believe we’ve addressed all the important aspects.
“Sanju (Samson) joined us, and our middle order performed excellently. Our bowling was also on point. We just needed a couple of wins to gain momentum. After the third game, we clinched those two victories, and the team started to come together,” Gaikwad mentioned during the post-match presentation.
The Chennai Super Kings, under Ruturaj Gaikwad’s leadership, faced a rocky beginning to their campaign, losing their first three matches before rebounding with two back-to-back wins. With four league-stage matches remaining, CSK aims for at least three more victories to keep their playoff hopes alive.
“On the batting front, having Sanju on our side has been invaluable. After his performance in the T20 World Cup and now, he is undoubtedly the backbone of the team. However, it’s the bowling that truly wins tournaments.
“To have Akeal (Hosein) and Jamie (Overton) performing well while others concede runs over 10 or 12, they are quietly stepping up and getting the job done. That instills a lot of confidence. Anshul Kamboj is also impressive; he understands his strengths. Although he had a tough day today, I believe he’s already motivated to bounce back,” Gaikwad added.
Reflecting on the team’s revival, Gaikwad noted that they have maintained faith since the tournament’s outset, requiring just a few wins to build momentum, which is now evident in their recent performances.
With this victory, CSK has reached 10 points and secured sixth place in the table after 10 matches. Their next challenge is against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Chepauk on May 10. LSG currently sits at the bottom, and Chennai will face them again on May 15. For now, they need to secure three wins from their remaining four matches to have a viable chance for playoff qualification.
