The Chennai Super Kings have little to smile about these days. But the one man who is giving the yellow brigade some cheer is their wily old campaigner, Muttiah Muralidaran.
With nine wickets from five games, Murali leapfrogged his countryman Chaminda Vaas from the Deccan Chargers, to become the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. Murali became the proud holder of the Purple Cap on Tuesday night.
Muttiah MuralidaranBut the champion off-spinner is clearly disappointed that his spells are not translating into victories. “It is disappointing that out of five matches we have had three losses. It is a tough time for us,” Murali told iplt20.com after yet another disappointing loss.
Ask him the one reason for the team’s poor run of form, and Murali has a simple answer: “We are missing Dhoni. I hope he comes back soon and we start winning.”
After Dhoni, even Justin Kemp is out with back spasms. So all this has created a hole in the middle-order, feels Murali. “We have been unlucky with injuries.”
Murali bowled yet another magical spell on Tuesday night against Royal Challengers Bangalore, but again that wasn’t enough to ensure a win for the Chennai team. It was only Murali who could manage to keep a tight leash on the Royal Challengers’ batting with yet another three-wicket haul in DLF IPL 2010.
Ask him about the magic behind his form, and he just rolls his eyes. “I am just bowling normally like previous times and it is working for me.”
Murali clearly enjoys having the responsibility of leading the Super Kings’ attack on his shoulder. With no real strike bowler up-front, it is all down to Murali. Does he feel the pressure? “Not at all, I don't feel the pressure. I have handled it for the last 20 years. I am just continuing to do what I have done so far.''
The Sri Lankan, though, believes that he is not the only strike bowler in the Super Kings line-up. “Every bowler is a strike bowler. We have five bowlers who take the field and everyone contributes to a team. It is disappointing that things have not gone our way so far. But we will see what happens in the next match,'' said Murali.
The keen contest between Murali and Vaas for the Purple Cap is very much the talking point thus far. Vaas and Murali formed Sri Lanka's most famous bowling pair in the 1990s and the early part of 2000s. So it has been a needle contest between Vaas and Murali to get their hand on the Purple Cap. But Murali does not see it as any tussle for the Cap. “No nothing of that sort. I want to win matches. If we win, the Caps will take care of themselves.''
Murali is clear in his mind on what Chennai Super Kings need to do to snap out of this current run. "We have lost three of our five matches. Now we need to win at least five of the remaining nine games to go into the semi-finals. It is a long way to go. But I am confident that we can turn it around".
source: dhangout.comk
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