Chennai Super Kings (CSK) debuted with Jharkhand cricketer Monu Singh during their 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Dubai on Sunday (October 25). Monu is a bowling allrounder and was part of the 2014 U19 World Cup India team. So far he has played 22 T20 for Jharkhand and has chosen 25 terrains with an average of 22 and an economy rate of 6.90 . in the previous Syed Mushtaq Ali Tournament, he had 10 wickets in nine games. Monu had a chance in Game XI at the expense of Shardul Thakur, and captain MS Dhoni said the franchise is looking to give its bench players opportunities in the rest of the tournament. (FULL COVERAGE IPL 2020 | 2020 IPL CALENDAR | TABLE OF POINTS IPL 2020)
Interestingly, Monu has been part of CSK’s setup for two years after being chosen in the 2018 IPL auction. “I’m excited to be picked up by CSK on my Indian Premier League debut, even more so because Mahi bhaiya ( MS Dhoni) is leading the team and knows how to get the best out of me … he knows my bowling, Monu had said after CSK agreed to me in 2018. “I learned a lot from Dhoni during the Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign,” added.
RCB captain Virat Kohli won the draw on Sunday and chose to bat against CSK. RCB brought in all-rounder Moeen Ali in the starting eleven in place of Isuru Udana.
“We’ll hit first. It’s a pretty dry and rugged course. It’s interesting when the weather was hot, the courses weren’t playing well. The temperatures have dropped now, but it’s slowing down. Moeen Ali replaces Isuru Udana as an all-rounder.” Kohli said after winning the draw.
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“We would also have loved to hit first, for the same reason that it is a used wicket,” said CSK captain MS Dhoni. CSK have won just three of the 11 games they have played so far and their chances of reaching the playoffs are almost impossible now.
“Mathematically, we still have a chance, but you have to think about how we have done this season. 4-5 games before, we only take one game at a time and we don’t worry about the point table,” Dhoni said.
RCB went 145-6 batting first against CSK, with CSK shooting things well in the middle.
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