(Image source from: msn.com)
Chennai Super Kings bowler Khaleel Ahmed has been unable to continue in the IPL due to an injury to his thigh. Ahmed, who played in all five matches that CSK has had so far, felt pain in his right hip during the match against KKR on April 14. He had been a reliable player for CSK in the beginning phase of the tournament. An IPL source mentioned, "It is a grade 2 tear and recovery will take a minimum of 10-12 weeks. " The left-arm bowler has participated in 11 ODIs and 18 T20s for India, with his last game taking place in July 2024. Earlier, team captain Ruturaj Gaikwad mentioned on Tuesday that things are "slowly coming together" for Chennai Super Kings after they achieved their second win in a row, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by 32 runs. CSK, undergoing some changes, entered this match after a solid 23-run victory over Delhi Capitals and delivered another strong performance to triumph over KKR, moving up one spot to eighth in the league standings.
"Step by step, it’s beginning to take shape, I believe," Gaikwad shared with a broadcaster following the match. "Everyone seems to understand their responsibilities, including which overs to bowl and the lengths to aim for. They are making adjustments and adapting well to what the team needs. "As I mentioned, bit by bit, we are improving, and that is encouraging for us," he stated. Gaikwad noted that CSK was hoping to reach a score of around 220, but the total they achieved—192/5—was still satisfactory. "We defended a solid total. I thought it was a reasonable score, considering the pitch changed significantly after the first seven or eight overs," he explained. "The ball began to spin a bit and lose its bounce. Initially, we aimed for 220 or 210, but then we reconsidered and thought that anything near 190 or 180 would be a good score. After that, we just needed to perform well in the power play for our bowling," Gaikwad added. The victory for CSK was largely thanks to Noor Ahmad, who took three wickets for just 21 runs in four overs and played a key role in disrupting KKR's run chase. The Afghan spinner mentioned that it was crucial to keep his fingers dry in the hot and humid weather.
"There was dew and humidity, so I tried to keep my fingers dry, which really helped me to bowl accurately," he said. "The ball wasn't coming off the bat very well, and taking advantage of that was beneficial. I will continue to work hard to help my team in future matches," he concluded.
