Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin reckons Chennai Super Kings would not have managed more than 100 runs against Gujarat Titans if Prasidh Krishna had been part of the visitors’ playing XI at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Sunday.
CSK managed a below par score of 158-7 in their 20 overs and GT were able to chase down the score with eight wickets and 20 balls to spare. Meanwhile, Krishna, was ruled out of the match due to a niggle and in his place, GT backed Arshad Khan.
Khan had decent figures of 1-22 in his first three overs but his last over was taken for 21 runs and he eventually ended with figures of 2-43 in his four overs.
“I don’t know if Prasidh Krishna has an injury, or has a niggle. If that is not the case, then playing Arshad Khan in place of him, was not a great decision. If Prasidh Krishna had played on this wicket, CSK would not have made one run more than 100,” R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin added that CSK’s think tank should have been guile in their pitch selection.
“CSK are now in a position after this defeat where they have to win four games out of six. When you gave them pitch No.6, the match was lost there only. That pitch should have been assigned for the match against MI, they have missed that trick. People might say that assigning pitches is not the team’s job. But you will get the opportunity to pick three pitches in every ground. You can talk to the groundsmen and decide which pitch you want for which match,” Ashwin added.
The former CSK off-spinner said Ruturaj Gaikwad’s team should have played on the red soil pitch.
“GT’s strength is not high-scoring games. If a game happened like the DC-PBKS one, GT would not be in the game only. So, their strength can be their weakness at times, and CSK directly handed the game to them. You cannot play a 170-180 game against GT. This was the right time for CSK to use the red soil pitch and go for a 220 total,” he continued.
Chennai Super Kings will next take on Mumbai Indians at the Chepauk Stadium on Saturday.
