Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ended their below-par Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 season with a resounding 9-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday and register their third win on the trot.
The last three matches also saw their young opener, Ruturaj Gaikwad, smashing 3 important fifties. He scored an unbeaten 65 versus Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) before following it with a scintillating 72 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Gaikwad then rounded off the season with an unbeaten 62 in the run-chase against the SRH. His recent exploits have impressed veteran South African batsman Faf du Plessis. During the post-match ceremony on Sunday, du Plessis compared the 23-year-old with RCB captain Virat Kohli.
“He (Gaikwad) looks like a young Virat Kohli, doesn’t he? What stands out for me is his composure. Pressure situations do not really get to him. That’s always pleasing to see in a young guy and looks like he has a bright future,” he said.
Notably, match 53 of IPL 2020 was the last outing of the season for CSK and KXIP. Though CSK were already out of the playoffs, their win over KXIP also spoiled the latter’s plan of making it to the top four.
CSK have a lot of players under the age bracket of 35 to 40 and so a question on their cricketing future is always thrown upon them. However, Du Plessis said that he’s still got a lot of cricket left with him.
“I am still loving it. I have got a lot of cricket left in me, at least five years,” he stated.
CSK skipper MS Dhoni, during the toss ahead of the match, cleared the air and said “definitely not” when asked about whether it’s his last appearance for the ‘Yellow Army’.