Have Chennai Super Kings roped in Ayush Mhatre as the injured Ruturaj Gaikwad’s replacement? When asked, a CSK official answered in the negative. “We don’t go by what’s appearing on social media. If it is official, we will inform via our official outlets,” he said.
Mhatre, the 17-year-old talented Mumbai batsman, had earlier been called by CSK for a trial and he might well replace Gaikwad if the latter is eventually ruled out of the tournament due to a fracture in his elbow. “I don’t take such calls. This is to be decided by the team management,” said the official.
The bottomline is that one mid-season signing will not change CSK’s fortune. Collective effort is needed and from a distance it feels like this is beyond the five-time IPL champions as far as this season is concerned.
Then again, CSK are an out-and-out cricket franchise. Their hierarchy has been associated with the sport long enough – through the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association and club cricket – to know that things don’t follow a linear pattern, especially in a high-risk format like T20 cricket. CSK have lost five matches on the spin, three on their home patch. But they will not press the panic button.
The hammering at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders was a new low. CSK registered their lowest-ever total (103/9) at Chepauk. MS Dhoni returning to lead the side again didn’t immediately bring on the new captain bounce. An eight-wicket loss with 59 balls to spare was demoralising. But negative vibes haven’t crept into the dressing room.
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“Team morale hasn’t dipped. In sport, sometimes you do well, sometimes you don’t. We haven’t been playing well, that’s a fact. But we will work hard to turn it around,” said the official.
Outside noise, though, has been deafening. Certain players are being targeted. “(Ravichandran) Ashwin is bowling terribly. He is bowling very, very poorly. I’m not sure if Ashwin will be in the XI for the next game after bowling like this. If you ask me – drop him,” former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth said on his YouTube show.
When CSK bought Ashwin for Rs 9.5 crore at the mega auction, his homecoming was celebrated. So far, in six matches, the veteran off-spinner has taken five wickets at an average of 39.60 and an economy rate of 9.90.
Ravindra Jadeja has just two wickets from six games at an average of 57.00 and an economy rate of 8.65. No one expected this to happen to the two spin-bowling masters. Very few expected that the team’s batting collectively would have a complete meltdown.
And yet, CSK aren’t thinking about doing anything drastic. They have won enough to take a couple of bad seasons in their stride. A few changes here and there might happen – young Vansh Bedi getting a game against Lucknow Super Giants on Monday appears a possibility. But a wholesale change is unlikely.
There’s still enough belief in that dressing room to effect a turnaround. If that doesn’t happen, CSK will learn from their mistakes and will move. Also, under Dhoni and Stephen Fleming, this team is pretty good at shutting out the outside noise.