CHENNAI: May seems to be the month of unnecessary clásicos. While the protagonists of the original – Barcelona and Real Madrid – play the Catalan giants at the Nou Camp next Sunday, apart from wrapping up La Liga, the Indian version at the MAC this Saturday is probably of academic interest only.Chennai Super Kings And Mumbai Indians They are three and four wins respectively away from the leading pack of four and will need a miracle for these underperforming giants to make the playoffs.While the teams don’t have much to play for other than pride, there’s a lot at stake for the players. This is at the top of the list. Surya Kumar YadavIndia’s T20 World Cup winning captain. Despite being praised for his captaincy, there is no doubt that he spoiled the World Cup with 157 runs in seven matches, 84 of which came against the USA in the first match.Immediately after the World Cup, Soria spoke about his ambitions to lead the team to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. But with the way things are shaping up for them in the IPL, it’s a long shot.
The 35-year-old is enduring one of his worst IPL seasons since 2021, when he managed 317 runs at an average of 22.64. This year, with the team needing a senior pro to stand up and deliver, ‘SKY’ has faltered time and again, leaving MI in a deep hole. His 162 runs in eight matches is very low, especially when coming at number 3 or 4.Coach of Mumbai Indians Mahila JayawardeneJumped to his player’s defense before practice Friday, though. “In practice, he is batting as well as anyone. And in matches too, he is hitting the ball well and the way he has been dismissed a few times is quite unfortunate. A couple of times he has had some good balls,” Jayawardene said, adding that he has been through similar situations as a batsman.
The coach insisted that Suriya “needs to trust his thought process and ability. He’s that kind of player, very unconventional. We just keep encouraging him. He’s had a great three, four years and maybe a little run like that. He’ll still come with a smile and play the way he knows how to play,” the coach added.But Surya knows that Shreyas Iyer is having a great season for the Punjab Kings and can claim not only his place in India but also his throne. That’s added pressure and in a situation like this, an injured CSK on a black clay pitch at the MAC with thousands of people screaming against you isn’t the easiest proposition. But then again, the right-hander has faced adversity in his long career and all his fans will be hoping that the ‘Clasico’ will mark the start of the T20 stalwart’s comeback journey.
