Cricket and batting for Shikhar Dhawan is a celebration, a waltz where he expresses himself.
The left-hander’s undefeated 59-88 opening goal was a key part of the Punjab Kings’ 11-match win over Chennai Super Kings in their IPL clash at Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
In the end, Punjab Kings’ 187 for four after being inserted proved a couple of shots too far for CSK with the spell MS Dhoni beating a point four and six at the end but succumbing to an outfield serve. Foot of athlete Rishi Dhawan in the final match.
It was a chase where Ambati Rayudu did some heavy lifting with 39-78, with favorable footwork, creative stroke play and power.
Rayudu’s ferocious attack on seafarer Sandeep Sharma was breathtaking. It is brave, rough and brutal with six sides of its legs, six slashes and a boundary in its walking,
Days 16 over yield 23 runs. CSK has stepped in.
But then the champions pull their weight when it matters most. Kagiso Rabada quickly grabbed Rayadu. It was a clinical strike.
Skipper Ravindra Jadeja and Dhoni have dealt a few fatal blows but miracles don’t happen every day. CSK must be based on consistency.
CSK lost points in the chase. Robin Uthappa died trying to get Sandeep into Marine Drive. Mitchell Santner let his foot in contact with Arshdeep and Shivam Dube continued to play with Dhawan.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, sweetly holding the ball, promised a lot but Rabada knocked him out with a longer ball just outside the box.
For Punjab, the cunning left-hander Arshdeep Singh is also a hero, bowling in horror at death.
Before that, the electric-filled Liam Livingstone hit the punch for the Punjab innings with a 19-ball seven.
Livingstone cuts through with reflexes, power and precision. The key is how quickly he chooses the length of Dwaine Pretorious.
Dhawan was so innovative and creative late in the game, dribbling the ball through gaps.
The 110-match partnership between Dhawan and Bhanuka Rajapaksa was the mainstay of the innings.
Dhawan drives squares, cuts behind and whips speed controllers, and swerves and sweeps gyros.
Rajapaksa (42 years old), a born striker, played powerful shots.
The left-hander Santner crouched down amazingly and to his surprise he only landed two balls.
Punjab does not complain.
