IPL 2021: Chepauk & Wankhade Pitches Twisting The Games

In the first week of IPL 2021, we have witnessed more low-scoring games than high-scoring fests. This is a strange phenomenon in IPL. What makes it stranger is the fact that a flat deck like Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is also witnessing low or modest totals. If we look closely, the pitches in Chennai and Mumbai have produced low totals in different ways.

In the case of Mumbai, four matches were held at Wankhede till now. While the first two matches witnessed high-scoring games, the next two games featured low-score chases. The important factor in the last two matches is the bowling during the power play.

In the match between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals, both teams have managed to scalp quick wickets inside the powerplay. This factor pressurised the batting team and restricted them from scoring high totals.

The same is the case with the match between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings. Deepak Chahar took four wickets in the first seven overs of the game. CSK had an advantage of the dew factor while chasing a low total of 107 posted by Punjab. Even though Chennai did lose a couple of wickets consecutively while chasing, it was because of their hurry and not the pitch.

If we come to Chennai, the batsmen are finding it difficult to hit boundaries when the ball becomes old. That factor affected Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad in their respective matches against Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. As a result, both KKR and SRH lost easy chases dramatically. There are quite a few games left both in Chennai and Mumbai.

We have to see how many more surprises these two venues have in store for us for the upcoming games.