IPL 2024: Ravindra Jadeja Nicknamed 'Cricket Thalapathy' by Harsha Bhogle, CSK Twitter Handle Says 'Verified'

Add as a preferred source on Google

Chennai, Apr 8: All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja once again stamped his authority as one of the premier spinners in the Indian Premier League as the left-arm tweaker handed Chennai Super Kings a stunning victory in the IPL 2024.

Making use of the tacky Chepauk surface, Jadeja outfoxed Kolkata Knight Riders batters in the middle over as Chennai Super Kings were back to winning ways after they comfortably won the match by seven wickets on Monday (April 8).

It was CSK's third win in five games, all of which have come at Chepauk, having lost the last two matches away from home. They have won all three games in their backyard and continue to maintain it as their fortress.

Ravindra Jadeja Stars in CSK win over KKR

Jadeja, whose spin bowling has often taken a back-seat in the past few seasons, took three wickets in the space of eight deliveries to clinically dismantle KKR, who could only manage 137 for 9 on a track where stroke-making became difficult.

The Saurashtra spinner - who has been a part of the CSK dressing room since 2014 - bagged the Player of the Match award for his impactful performance of 3/14. Hailed as a man blessed with one of the safest pair of hands on a cricket pitch currently, Jadeja even completed 100 catches in the IPL after taking a couple in the outfield against KKR.

New nickname for Sir Jadeja at CSK?

During the post-match presentation, veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle asked if he would love a nickname of 'Cricket Thalapathy' from the CSK fans just like MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina are lovingly called 'Thala' & 'Chinna Thala', the star India all-rounder, who is fondly called Sir Jadeja, candidly replied saying the nickname has to be verified and approved by the passionate CSK supporters.

Bhogle posted on X, "I don't think there is another ground in India where the crowd almost becomes part of the post-match presentation. I love doing it here. So @ChennaiIPL are you going to give Jadeja the 'verification' for "Cricket Thalapathi"?"

Minutes later, CSK handle on X, formerly known as Twitter, posted, "𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗦 𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗬 😉." Jadeja also acknowledged the veteran commentator for his noble gesture and posted 'thanks a lot' in reply to Bhogle's post.

Nevertheless, it remains intriguing to observe whether the loyal CSK supporters embrace this change, considering their history of lavishing love and admiration on every member of the team. The unmatched contributions of Dhoni and Raina to the team's success have been deeply cherished by the fans, yet Jadeja's remarkable efforts and impact in the Yellow Jersey should not be underestimated.

CSK beat KKR convincingly in IPL 2024

For CSK, the pursuit posed no challenge as captain Ruturaj Gaikwad anchored the innings with a composed 67 runs off 58 balls, well-supported by contributions from Daryl Mitchell (25 runs off 19 balls) and the in-form Shivam Dube (28 runs off 18 balls). They successfully achieved the target in 17.4 overs, with the iconic figure of former captain MS Dhoni on the field as they sealed the victory.

Before the chase, Ravindra Jadeja showcased his bowling prowess, dismantling KKR's batting lineup. After facing consecutive defeats away from home, CSK found their rhythm on their familiar home ground at Chepauk, where the conditions favoured spin bowling.

Despite KKR's promising start, adding 56 runs in the Powerplay, their innings crumbled once the spinners came into play. The slow nature of the pitch made stroke-making difficult, leading to dismissals such as Sunil Narine's caught-out attempt and Raghuvanshi's ill-judged reverse sweep.

Venkatesh Iyer struggled against Theekshana's bowling, and Jadeja further compounded KKR's troubles by claiming his wicket. With a flurry of three wickets in just eight balls, Jadeja decisively swung the momentum in CSK's favour.