Gaikwad, entrusted with the leadership role just before the IPL, began his captaincy stint on a high note under the guidance of veteran MS Dhoni, steering CSK to a convincing six-wicket victory over RCB on Friday.
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Gavaskar highlighted Gaikwad’s astute bowling changes as a standout feature of his captaincy debut.
“What was impressive was his bowling changes. The way he kept on changing Mustafizur; the way he used Mustafizur was absolutely terrific,” remarked the former India skipper in an interview with Star Sports.
He further commended Gaikwad’s decision-making, particularly in persisting with bowlers like Tushar Deshpande, who delivered under pressure in the final over despite earlier setbacks.
Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s stellar performance, claiming his best IPL figures of 4/29, played a pivotal role in dismantling RCB’s top-order, restricting them to 173/6.
Gavaskar also acknowledged the influence of MS Dhoni, stating, “And we see over here, he has, of course, MS Dhoni around him, to guide him, tell him and give him encouragement. Sometimes, that little nod from somebody as experienced and as accomplished as MSD, makes a big difference.”
Reflecting on RCB’s tactics, Gavaskar criticized their over-reliance on short-pitched deliveries, emphasizing the need for versatility in their approach.
“Yes, try the short ball by all means, but when it wasn’t working… it looked like that’s all they were looking to do,” he remarked.
He further emphasized the importance of accuracy in executing bouncers, expressing disappointment over RCB’s one-dimensional strategy and urging them to adopt a more varied approach in their bowling tactics.
(With inputs from PTI)
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