Eerie similarities in the dismal starts of CSK and Mumbai Indians

Since 2016, only one franchise had lost the opening four matches of its campaign, a dubious distinction held by Royal Challengers Bangalore, who were beaten in their first six matches of the 2019 edition.

After Saturday’s double-header, that number has now trebled. Joining RCB in that undesirable ‘honours’ list are Mumbai Indians and defending champions Chennai Super Kings, the two most successful teams in the history of the Indian Premier League, having won nine of the 14 titles thus far.

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At this early stage of the competition – only 18 of the 74 league games are over – MI and CSK are so far behind the eight-ball that a sneaky charge to the playoffs isn’t even in the realms of the imagination. The immediate task for these two proud sides, unaccustomed to propping up the foot of the table, is to get the first ‘W’ against their name. But unless they play each other, which isn’t until April 21, it’s difficult to see where that maiden victory is going to come from.

There is an eerie similarity to how Mumbai and Chennai’s misfiring campaigns have unfolded – the lack of big scores, compounded by or resulting in extremely unpenetrative bowling that has seldom asked difficult questions of opponents taken pleasantly by surprise at the distinct lack of fight.

MI’s systemic issue

Mumbai are historically notoriously poor starters after a mega auction, suggesting a systemic issue. They have taken time to jell as a unit but the quality in their ranks has helped them tide over sluggish beginnings. Now, they seem a pale shadow of their imperious self after being forced to let go of a plethora of superstars in whom they had invested heavily but who have found new homes elsewhere in the immediacy of the latest big auction in February.

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They could only retain four of their original core – skipper Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav and Kieron Pollard. And so obsessed were they with re-acquisitioning the services of Ishan Kishan, the pint-sized wicketkeeper-opener, that they splurged Rs 15.25 crore on the Jharkhandi and therefore perhaps couldn’t bid aggressively for some of their other ‘old’ players they might have wanted to buy back.

Among those who have led the exodus are Pandya brothers Hardik and Krunal, spunky ‘keeper Quinton de Kock and exceptional left-arm swing king Trent Boult, all integral to their spectacular successes over the last several years. Such was the quality this quartet brought to the table that it’s impossible to replicate their nous, skillset, adaptability and constancy.

Let down by established order

The newcomers have had their moments, most notably the stylish left-hand batsman from Hyderabad Tilak Varma, but Mumbai have been let down by the established order just when they ought to have stepped up and smoothed the road to transition. Rohit has been a mixed bag, in a reflection of his IPL performances of the last four seasons; he has just 80 runs in four innings, seldom surviving the Power Play and being dismissed at the most inopportune moments. For someone who has made the art of leading by example a formality, it must be particularly disappointing for the all-format national skipper to keep doing the hard yards and throwing his hand away.

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Where Rohit is expected to shore up the batting, the similar bowling onus rests with Bumrah, the lynchpin who struck up such a remarkable tandem with Boult. Bumrah has had one outstanding outing, but otherwise has blown more cold than hot. All three of his wickets so far came in that sensational burst against Rajasthan Royals when he finished with three for 17 from four typically searing Bumrah overs. That apart, he has looked jaded and a little short of ideas, being taken apart by seasoned and rookie batsmen alike, as evidenced by an economy rate of 8.75 across 14.2 overs.

CSK sans Dhoni as captain

If their batting and bowling leaders have let Mumbai down, then Chennai have reason to reflect on what might have been had their new captain not slipped off the lofty pedestal he has made his home in the last couple of years. Ravindra Jadeja, with little to no captaincy experience, was elevated to the hot seat hitherto occupied by Mahendra Singh Dhoni just 48 hours before the start of the IPL. Captaincy hasn’t sat lightly on Jadeja’s shoulders, yet. Just 66 runs from four innings and a solitary wicket from 13 overs are frugal by any stretch of the imagination and mind-boggling when one considers just how prolific Jadeja has been across formats for the country and how much of an impact cricketer he has been for his beloved band of yellow.

Chennai’s woes are best exemplified by the fact that in just four matches, they have already tried out 16 different players, a number they sometimes just about cross during an entire season when things are going well. They have been hit hard by the exit of Faf du Plessis, the seasoned opener who is helming RCB quite superbly taking over from Virat Kohli. 

Du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad had given them healthy, hefty starts last season when Chennai shrugged off the disappointment of not making the playoffs in 2020 to surge to their fourth crown. With du Plessis missing and Gaikwad in the middle of a horrible rut – he has but 18 runs in four hits – Chennai have asked too much of their middle order and haven’t got anywhere near what they have desired.

More than anything, though, it’s the unavailability through a hamstring injury of Deepak Chahar that’s hurting them. Chahar is a proven wicket-taker with the new white ball, a superb swing bowler who has prevented teams from getting off to cracking starts. Without him and the expensive but incisive Shardul Thakur, Chennai’s attack looks toothless – they have taken just 17 wickets from four matches, a third of them coming from Dwayne Bravo.

Long, arduous road ahead

Chennai optimists might take heart from 2010, when their heroes endured a four-match losing streak to secure their maiden IPL title, but it’s difficult to see that happening again. The road from here on will be long, arduous and challenging for both them and their western counterparts, the rest of the field unlikely to offer them a free meal.