“We had a specific plan: Even if we got hit with a good ball, we would try to concentrate on bowling that good ball again,” Deshpande said. “We won’t change according to them. As bowlers in this format, I need to dictate terms to the batsmen. I tried to do that and it paid off today.”

Deshpande’s knocks with the new ball were important because CSK entered the game with just nine powerplay wickets in IPL 2024, the lowest among all teams. He dismissed Travis Head and Anmolpreet Singh with full deliveries in the second over and then tested Abhishek Sharma with a short ball dismissal in the fourth over. From that stand of 40 for 3, SRH could only muster 134 in 18.5 overs.

“The only plan was to keep bowling and be patient against a batting line-up like SRH, which is very aggressive in the powerplay. So that paid dividends for us,” he said. “I think bowling that length in the powerplay is very crucial. Even if the batsman is batting, I always go back to bowl that ball again. So I challenge the batsman to hit me again at that length. That’s my way of thinking. always and it worked. It comes out today.”

Tushar Deshpande soaks in applause as he sends back in-form Abhishek Sharma•Associated Press

“That was an area where [in the last] “In two or three games we lost momentum, we didn’t get enough wickets in the powerplay,” Gaikwad said. “Wits in the power play with the impact player rule definitely puts pressure on the opposition. It’s the only way to put the opposition on the defensive. Yes [Deshpande] He played very well and is working hard all season. Even last year and the year before that, he has done well and his hard work is paying off.

“Special mention to Jaddu [Jadeja] also. In these wet conditions, four overs for 20-25 [22] strange runs, for me that was the spell to change the game.

Gaikwad also addressed concerns over his fitness after needing physio during his 98 innings and later while fielding. He said hitting hard in the later innings, along with fielding in wet conditions, took its toll on him.

“It’s just…too hot and humid conditions,” Gaikwad said. “Even in the last game I was present at all times. [batting] for 20 overs and fielding for 20 overs. Even today I was there for almost 19 overs, so it’s a little bit difficult to breathe, but I just made sure I took my time and didn’t rush.”