Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned the Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) decision to play with Ajinkya Rahane as an opener in their defeat to the Gujarat Titans (GT). Rahane, who came in as an impact player, was dismissed for a five-ball one. The Titans posted a 232-run target after being asked to bat first in Ahmedabad on Friday, May 10. However, CSK were restricted to 196/8 in the chase, losing the game by 35 runs as well.

Reflecting on CSK’s chase in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said,  “You didn’t play Richard Gleeson in this match. You played Rachin Ravindra in his place. You strengthened your batting. You got him (Ravindra) to open but Rahane came with him. You (the fans) were thinking – ‘Ruturaj, you are scoring runs daily as an opener, so why are you not opening?’. Anyhow, Rachin Ravindra got run out for one in the first over itself.”

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“Ajinkya Rahane got out to the first ball off the next over. Two were out and when Ruturaj was the third out for zero, the match was almost set because it had become 10/3. There is no idea about Rahane’s role. Why are you persisting with him for so long? Sameer Rizvi could have played in this match,” the former India opener further added.

However, he was caught by Rahul Tewatia at mid-off off Sandeep Warrier’s bowling after Rachin Ravindra was brilliantly run out by David Miller. CSK were then reduced to 10/3 when Ruturaj Gaikwad got out for a duck. Aakash Chopra also praised Daryl Mitchell (63 off 34) and Moeen Ali (56 off 36) for keeping the Chennai Super Kings in the game as well.

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“After that, Daryl Mitchell and Moeen Ali kept you alive for some time. Everyone had prepared for RRR (Rachin, Rahane and Ruturaj), but there was an M&M (Mitchell and Moeen) show here for some time. They played well till the time they were there. Daryl Mitchell hit straight and Moeen Ali hit slightly on the leg side. Moeen Ali has got the gift of timing,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “However, then Mohit Sharma came and picked up three wickets in his first three overs. First Mitchell, then Moeen Ali, and after that when he got Shivam Dube out, the game was done. In the end, Dhoni came and said that he is spreading happiness these days. He hit a helicopter-style six and two one-handed sixes.”