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Ruturaj Gaikwad Looks Like A Young Virat Kohli: Faf du Plessis Cricket
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Ruturaj Gaikwad Looks Like A Young Virat Kohli: Faf du Plessis

Chennai Super Kings' opener Faf du Plessis said that "Ruturaj Gaikwad looks like a young Virat Kohli" after later becomes the first player from CSK to score three consecutive fifties in the IPL history. CSK, riding on the successive fifties from Gaikwad, finished off their IPL 2020 campaign with a thumping 9-wickets win over Kings XI Punjab which also proved to be a final nail in the coffin for KXIP who knocked out of the tournament. ## Faf du Plessis, who played a vital role with 48 off 34 balls in CSK's easy win was really impressed with the way young Gaikwad handled the pressure situations in this tournament. ## "He (Gaikwad) looks like a young Virat Kohli doesn't he. What stands out for me the most is is his composure. Pressure situations don't really get to him. That is always pleasing to see in a young guy and looks like he has a bright future", du Plessis said in the post-match presentation ceremony. ## Also Read - 'Definitely Not', MS Dhoni Refutes Rumors Of Playing His Last Game For CSK## Gaikwad with an unbeaten 62 off 49 balls, scored his third consecutive fifty and all three came in the successful run chases which also earned him his third consecutive man of the match. He said that it was difficult for him to miss out on the first few games but backed his ability when the opportunity arrived. ## "I was scoring well in the domestic circuit in every format, so I was feeling confident. Even for my club and state team, I had to be the anchor, make sure the team wins and I stay till the end. At times, I also need to be aggressive. One of my favourite - inside-out (shot)", Gaikwad said after the match. ## "Not to be part of the squad which was practicing initially, to miss the first few games, it was difficult for me. But the management and every teammate made sure that I was positive. An important part of the squad and it did help a lot. Being in the change room and being on the field - I was used to it", he added.## Stay tuned...

"Credit To MS Dhoni And Stephen Fleming For Sticking With The Same Side": Faf du Plessis Cricket
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"Credit To MS Dhoni And Stephen Fleming For Sticking With The Same Side": Faf du Plessis

After the initial setback, the three-times champions Chennai Super Kings is back on track with a dominating 10-wickets win over Kings XI Punjab on Sunday. It is only the second win for CSK in 5 matches which came after chasing down a big total of 179 without putting much effort. ## Shane Watson, who had not been able to show anything special with the bat before this match, scored an unbeaten 83-run knock on 53 balls while regaining his old form. However, it was Faf du Plessis, who has been a stand out performer for CSK so far in this year's IPL, played an unbeaten knock of 87 runs off 53 balls and added 181 runs with Watson for the first wicket which is highest ever partnership for CSK in the history of the Indian Premier League. ## Du Plessis, however, has credited skipper MS Dhoni and head coach, Stephen Fleming for showing faith in the players and sticking with the same team despite some of the players were not performing well. Plessis called it a CSK way that doesn't make quick changes even after losing a few games. ## "I thought in the previous game we were good with the ball, but we didn't bat well", du Plessis said during the post-match presentation. "Today Watto was a big plus for us. A lot of guys haven't played cricket, so you hope that you strike form immediately. But when that doesn't happen, it does take a bit of time. Hopefully, our guys find their best form over the next 3-4 games".## "Credit to MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming for sticking with the side. It is a Chennai way to stick with the players more than other teams might even when others feel like making changes. It comes with experience and credit to the management for sticking with the players". ## On the other hand, MS Dhoni said that they did the small things right while following the "process" which has been his mantra throughout his career. Dhoni also stressed out at the role of Fleming who, he thinks, doesn't get the kind of recognition he deserves. ## "The good thing between us (him and Fleming) is that we decide each and everything between us. It's not like we don't have debates over selections. But it stays between us", said Dhoni. ## Meanwhile, CSK moved up to number 6 in the points table with 4 points. The team will next face Kolkata Knight Riders on October 7 in Abu Dhabi. ## Stay tuned...

A night of du Plessis special IPL
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A night of du Plessis special

It was not easy for Faf du Plessis to came out to bat and play a match-winning knock after having played only five games out of 14 in this season of Indian Premier League. But it was such his class which single-handedly took Chennai Super Kings through to their 7th IPL final, at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday (May 22).## Du Plessis was up against arguably the best bowling attack of this IPL and that made his knock even more special. He came out as an opener and show his partners on the other end kept losing their wickets at regular space. He found a partner in Shardul Thakur who played a short bat valuable innings along with him.## With 43 required in 18 balls, first, du Plessis with 20 runs to Brathwaite in 18th over and after that Thakur with 17 runs to Siddarth Kaul seal the deal for CSK. With six required in last over, du Plessis hit a six on the first ball and finished the game with five balls to spare. Du Plessis was also awarded Man Of The Match for his heroic knock of 67* off 42 balls.## "It's nice to make a contribution tonight. Haven't played much. Last night when I was preparing, I reflected on the games I have played here in Mumbai. It is a stadium I have enjoyed playing. Took confidence from that. I just got in the change room now and said, how did we win that game. It felt just a little out of reach. It was great that guys came in and hit a few boundaries in the end. Everything went our way towards the end on a wicket which wasn't easy to bat on"## "Rashid Khan was a handful on that wicket. He was really really tough to play on that wicket and he bowls quickly. It is hard to take him on. Our plan got through him and see which bowler to take down on the night. Towards the end, I was just trying to place a few," said du Plessis while receiving Man of the match.## Shardul Thakur, who had a forgettable night with the ball as conceded 50 runs in his 4 overs but his handful cameo of 15* off 5 balls overshadowed his bowling figure.## "I thought it was good and it was important for me to give some runs and so that Faf could finish it. He(Faf) was set. I kept saying to the coaches that I can bat. Last year I got out twice while playing for Pune when I had an opportunity. This time I ensured I finished the game. MS said 'Pic the balls and react'. Faf and I discussed what to do. He was saying me to take the single, but it worked the other way around. We kept getting the boundaries. That's what people want. In the end, they got some. The belief was always there. If you have to win, you need to have the belief," said Thakur.## With this win, CSK becomes the first team to reach into the final but they will have to wait who will be their opponent in final.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.

Du Plessis heroic take CSK through final of the IPL 2018 IPL
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Du Plessis heroic take CSK through final of the IPL 2018

Chennai Super Kings becomes the first team to reach into the final of the VIVO IPL 2018 after Faf du Plessis stunning 67* off 42 balls helped his team to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 2 wickets in the first qualifier at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday (May 22).## Sunrisers Hyderabad posts 139 on the board after putting to bat first. Thanks to Carlos Brathwaite's late blitz of 43* off 29 balls. In reply, CSK were struggling on 62 for 6 before du Plessis pulled out a stunning show and won it almost single handily for his team.## SRH off to a miserable start## After putting to bat first, Sunrisers lost Shikhar Dhawan on the very first ball of the innings. Deepak Chahar's inswinging got Dhawan out. However, Kane Williamson hit three back to back fours in first over and tried to give momentum to SRH innings. When they were looking to build a partnership Lungi Nagidi dismissed Goswami before Shardul Thakur trapped big fish in back to back overs. Williamson scored 24 off 15. After that, they kept losing wickets in regular space and at one stage they reduced to 88 for 6 after 15 overs.## Brathwaite's late assault kept SRH in the hunt## After losing 6 wickets on 88, Carlos Brathwaite took responsibility on his own shoulders and hammered 43 off 29 balls including one four and 4 sixes. He put on a 51-run stand off 30 balls with Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He collected 20 runs from the last over Thakur with two sixes and a four.## CSK off to similar start to SRH## In reply to 140, CSK got off to very much similar start as SRH had started. First Bhuvneshwar got Shane Watson in 5th ball of the innings. After that Suresh Raina hit three fours to Sandeep Sharma before Siddarth Kaul bowled Raina and Ambati Rayudu out on back to back balls. Raina scored 22 while Rayudu could not open his account. After that, it was Rashid Khan who had almost won the game for SRH by picking MS Dhoni in 8th over.## Rashid Khan kept things tight further. In this process, he got another wicket this time he trapped Bravo in slip region. At one stage they reduced to 62 for 6 after 12.3 overs.## Du Plessis- finish it off in style## After losing 6 wickets, Plessis added 30 runs off 15 balls with Chahar for the 7 wickets. But he changed the game in 18th over where he scored 20 runs off Brathwaite with the help of 3 fours and a six. In that over he reached his first fifty of this IPL off just 37 balls. With 23 runs needed in two overs, Shardul Thakur joined the party with Plessis and hammered valuable 17 runs off Siddarth Kaul in 19th over. Only 6 required off the last over, Plessis hit the first ball for a six and helped CSK to reach their record 7th IPL final. Du Plessis hit 5 fours and 4 sixes in his match-winning knock and awarded Man Of The Match## Spinners day out## In a low scoring thriller, Ravindra Jadeja and Rashid Khan were the star performer with the balls. First Jadeja who conceded only 13 runs in his 4 overs and picked Manish Pandey while Rashid Khan finished his spell with the even more impressive figures of 4-0-11-2. Lungi Nagidi also bowled well and gave away only 20 runs in 4 overs and picked a wicket too.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for the reading.