IPL 2020: Did Dhoni Pull Off A Masterstroke With All-Rounder Curran Opening CSK's Innings In 20-Run Win Against SRH?

Promoted up the order to open the innings against SRH, seam all-rounder Sam Curran scored a quick-fire 21-ball 31 run knock to provide CSK with a breezy start in the powerplays despite the fall of in-form batsman Faf Du Plessis for a duck.

Sam Curran (Image: IPLT20.Com)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) registered a desperate win against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in an IPL 2020 encounter played at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday and kept their hopes of making it to the play-offs in ongoing Season 13 at the UAE very much alive. The 3-time champions who were on the brink of elimination after a 5-match losing streak, secured a 20-run win over SRH and garnered 2 points in their kitty and would still fancy their chances to make it to the top four in round robin assignment. CSK's dominant win came on the back of a fine all-round performance which saw their bowlers restricting Sunrisers Hyderabad to 147-8 after posting a competitive total of 167 runs on the board. While there were many stars who contributed for the 'Yellow Brigade' in their third win of the season , the game changer for CSK would be promising young English all-rounder Sam Curran, who stole the show with his all-round heroics at Dubai. With CSK not faring well at the top of the order with their opening combination failing to deliver in five off their previous six encounters, the franchise decided to open with seam all-rounder Sam Curran. Dhoni's surprise move to promote Sam Curran up the order to open the innings was baffling not only for Sunrisers Hyderabad but for millions watching the game. The well thought of gamble proved worthy as Sam Curran scored a quick-fire 21-ball 31 run knock to provide the thrust to his team despite the fall of in-form batsman Faf Du Plessis for a duck. Curran combined well with Shane Watson to strike a few lusty blows off the bowling off Khaleel Ahmed and lay a solid platform for the middle order batsman in Ambati Raydau, MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja to cash in. After playing his role as a dasher up the order, Curran did prove his worth the ball too as the left arm seamer dealt a major blow to Sunrisers Hyderabad by dismissing their aggressive opener and batting mainstay David Warner for 9. Curran got the ball to move around and stemmed the opposition's run flow by returning with impressive figures of 3 for 18 in his 3-over spell. CSK are now on the sixth position in the IPL 2020 points table with three wins in their 8 games so far. They need to win at least 4 off their remaining six games to brighten their chances of making it to the play-offs.