Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Chennai Super Kings’ young batter Ayush Mhatre became only the second player from the franchise to be retired out after scoring a half-century in the IPL. The 20-year-old was withdrawn after scoring 59 off 36 balls during CSK’s match against Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.
The call came in the 18th over with CSK well-placed at 175/2 and looking to maximise the final overs. Mhatre had added 113 runs with Sanju Samson, a stand that now stands as the second-highest partnership for CSK against Delhi Capitals for any wicket in IPL history. Only the 141-run opening stand between Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad in Delhi in 2023 ranks higher.
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Mhatre played a steady hand through the middle overs. He kept the scoreboard moving and ensured CSK did not lose momentum after the powerplay. The openers had taken CSK to 61 in the first six overs, but Ruturaj Gaikwad fell soon after, scoring 15 off 18 balls. That dismissal did not slow CSK down as Mhatre and Samson built the innings with control.
Both batters were given chances. Mhatre survived a couple of opportunities, while Samson was dropped on 52. Delhi Capitals could not capitalise on those moments. Samson went on to score a hundred off 52 balls and took charge once he crossed his fifty.
CSK were in a strong position heading into the final phase, but the scoring rate dipped slightly when Lungi Ngidi bowled a tight 17th over. T Natarajan followed with accurate yorkers in the 18th, making it difficult for set batters to accelerate.
That is when CSK made the call to retire Mhatre out and send in Shivam Dube. The decision was taken to bring in a fresh batter who could target the final overs from the start. Dube played his role, hitting boundaries whenever the ball was in his range and helping CSK push past the 200 mark.
CSK finished on 212/2, a total built on the strong partnership between Mhatre and Samson and finished with intent in the last overs.
Mhatre now joins a small list of players in the IPL who have been retired out mid-innings. The list includes Ravichandran Ashwin, Atharva Taide, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma and Devon Conway. Conway was the first CSK batter to be retired out, which makes Mhatre the second from the franchise to be used in this manner despite reaching a fifty.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
