The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Abu Dhabi on Saturday was halted for a while after CSK opener Faf du Plessis bumped into RR pacer Mustafizur Rahman at the non-striker’s end. The impact of collision on the South African batter seemed serious as he knelt down in pain and the team physio had to be called, reports hindustantimes.com.
Rajasthan eventually won the high-scoring match and kept their play-off hopes alive.
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The incident happened on the penultimate ball of the sixth over. Du Plessis took off to steal a quick single after chipping a length ball towards mid-off. Since he kept his eyes on the ball, the CSK opener didn’t anticipate the presence Mustafizur at the non-striker’s end. As a result, both players collided and fell on the ground.
Du Plessis looked miffed and then he was down in pain. After getting checked by the physio, he was back in action. However, he fell prey to Rahul Tewatia in the next over. Probably the concentration was hampered after the incident as it was the first delivery he faced after getting back at the crease. He got stumped for 25, while attempting to hit a good length ball.
Meanwhile, Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad hit his maiden Indian Premier League century but failed to inspire Chennai who were outplayed by Rajasthan. Gaikwad's unbeaten 101 in 60 balls steered Chennai, who have already qualified for the play-offs and stay top of the table, to 189-4 after being invited to bat first in Abu Dhabi.
Rajasthan overhauled their target in 17.3 overs with Shivam Dube unbeaten on 64 as they won by seven wickets.
The highlight remained Gaikwad's knock which was laced with nine fours and five sixes as the batsman reached his hundred with a hit over the fence on the final ball of Chennai's innings.
Gaikwad put on key partnerships including an unbeaten stand of 55 with Ravindra Jadeja, who made 32, to become the tournament's leading batsman with 508 runs in 12 matches.
"Unbelievable batting by Gaikwad, we're afraid of a batsman like him. Really a lot of respect to him," Royals skipper Sanju Samson said in praise of Gaikwad, who was named man of the match.
It was the first ton of the revived IPL in the United Arab Emirates and fourth of the Covid-hit season that was halted in May amid a raging pandemic in India.
