Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore maybe two of the better placed franchises in the IPL 2021, but former India wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel thinks these franchises will be feeling “jitters” ahead of the UAE leg of the tournament.
Led by greats such as MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, CSK and RCB are standing at second and third positions respectively at the halfway mark. Both the teams won five and lost just two games during the Indian leg of the competition, with only the net run-rate separating them.
Speaking on Star Sports’ show ‘Game Plan’, however, Parthiv offered interesting reasons as to why the two immensely popular franchises will be feeling a touch nervous before they resume their campaign.
The former India and Gujarat cricketer reckons with some ageing players part of their squad, CSK will be wary of the effects of the break in the last four months.
“You know we’re talking about teams like CSK, they wanted games behind their back, someone like Dhoni, like Raina, Like Rayudu, like Robin Uthappa, they’re not playing cricket throughout the year, but they’re just getting into the groove and they got this break,”
Parthiv said.
As for RCB, having been part of the team’s set-up previously, Parthiv stated that the halt in “momentum” could negatively influence their game.
Stressing his point, he said “I think these are the two teams which would be thinking ‘Oh okay we’ll go again, and start from scratch'”, adding that those placed below in the table will be happy to have got an unexpected breather from IPL’s suspension in early May.
CSK will resume their campaign on September 19 in Dubai with a fixture against defending champions Mumbai Indians. RCB will get back to business with an encounter versus Kolkata Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi the next day.
