- Shamser Khalid
Stray Dog Delays the Start of an IPL Match
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most awaited sporting events in India, and it is no wonder that people are talking about the recent match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Lucknow Super Giants. However, this time, the match was delayed by an unusual culprit- a dog!
Yes, you read that right! The start of the match got delayed after a dog entered the playing area, and it took some time for the ground staff to take it out. What's more, there were some unhappy with the interruption. Sunil Gavaskar expressed his annoyance on-air, saying that this was unacceptable.
This is not the first time a dog has interrupted a cricket match in India. Recently, a dog delayed the start of the third ODI between India and Australia, and it seems like these furry creatures are determined to be a part of the game!
Highlights of the Match
But once the game finally got underway, it was the opening pair of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway who stole the show. The two batsmen gave a dream start to CSK, adding 110 runs for the first wicket. Ruturaj was the star of the show, smashing 57 off just 31 balls with a strike rate of 183.87. He hit 4 sixes and 3 boundaries before being dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi.
Conway also played his part, scoring a solid 47 off 29 balls before being caught brilliantly by Krunal Pandya. Interestingly, this was the first time the two batsmen were playing in Chennai. Ruturaj had previously been part of CSK in 2019, but he had not played a game then.
Despite losing their first game against Gujarat Titans, MS Dhoni decided not to make any changes to the CSK playing XI. On the other hand, Lucknow Super Giants made one change, bringing in Yash Thakur in place of Jaydev Unadkat.
LSG had won their first game against Delhi Capitals and were hoping to continue their winning streak.
Before the Match
Even before the match, there was plenty of excitement with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). CSK captain MS Dhoni was thrilled to be back at the Chepauk stadium and had said that it meant a lot to play in front of a full crowd at their home ground.
The Chepauk stadium was known to be a spinner's paradise, and in their previous match, skipper Dhoni had not used Moeen Ali as a bowling option.
CSK had played 56 matches in their home venue and won 40, lost 15, and tied one match. They were looking to paint the stadium yellow once again and make it their fortress.
CSK had lost the opening game of the season to the Gujarat Titans by five wickets, and they were looking to register their first win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
In the end, it was CSK who emerged victorious, thanks to their impressive batting performance. It was a well-deserved win for the four-time IPL champions, who had retained faith in their players despite a defeat in the first game.
