It was a different game altogether for the CSK. For a team that has seen more success, losing 3 games in a row would definitely hurt. Being known for solid comebacks, the Chennai Super Kings were expecting a comfortable victory in their game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The SRH, on the other side, was also desperately looking for a win as they were currently at the bottom of the table. SRH won the toss and decided to bowl first, like every other team in this year's IPL. It was not a very great start by the CSK openers. The flawed opening stand for yet another time has implied that Jadeja's fleet is yet to show up for some overhaul. Robin Uthappa, who was consistently doing well, was dismissed for 15 runs.
The expectations on Ruturaj Gaikwad were huge as he is yet to make a mark in this series, but he disappointed everyone once again by losing his wicket for 16 runs. The 62 run partnership between Moeen Ali and Ambati Rayudu showed some light for CSK before Rayudu was dismissed for 27 and Moeen for a well-made 48. Dubey and Dhoni went for single digits and Jadeja scored a good 23 that enabled the CSK to post a decent total of 154 runs in their 20 overs by losing seven wickets.
The target was not so difficult for the Sunrisers to chase down and they were all set to use this opportunity to clinch their first victory in the series. It was Abhishek Sharma's day with the bat. He had an 89 run partnership for the opening wicket with Williamson. When Williamson got out for 32, he stayed and kept hitting the balls in the right areas and the CSK bowlers were clearly losing the momentum.
Abhishek scored a wonderful 75 runs from 50 balls that took his team home. Tripathi supported Abhishek with 39 runs from just 15 balls and the SRH chased down the target in just 17.4 overs, registering an emphatic win by just losing two wickets. They had scored 155 and handed over the fourth consecutive defeat for the CSK, a disappointing milestone that has put Jadeja's captaincy under a whirl of pressure. The defeat has pushed the CSK to more setbacks as it is getting out of the game.
Being the defending champions, CSK is faltering in the opening stand and in the death overs, the areas that are crucial to determine the victory. Sadly, CSK has found no solution that would heal its wound. CSK and Mumbai are the only teams that are yet to open the victory mark in the current season. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, CSK's skipper Ravindra Jadeja said, "Didn't get the start what we were looking for. 20-25 short. Our bowlers were looking to bowl in good areas early on, trying to take wickets."
"Will look to improve in both departments. We're all professional cricketers, need to work hard on our game, stick together and try to come back", Jadeja added. CSK will be taking on RCB on April 12 in Navi Mumbai and the Chennai fans had endured disappointments to the full extent and now, they hope that the CSK would give it back through its comeback. Will CSK avoid making the worst history of recording five consecutive defeats?
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