It was the kind of performance that, for Chennai Super Kings fans, the only way to avoid crying about it was to laugh instead.
After 10 overs of their chase against Kolkata Knight Riders, CSK were in the box seat, placed at 90-1 and needing 78 in the second half of the innings. Five boundaryless overs later, and they were up against it.
A cameo from Sam Curran meant they remained in with a chance, and when MS Dhoni fell, Kedar Jadhav, who averages 42 at above a run a ball for India in ODIs, walked in with CSK needing 39 to win from 21 balls. Aggression was the order of the day.
Open Account Offer. Up to ₹4000 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit ₹400. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of 12 times qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code WISDEN can be used during registration, but does not change the offer amount in any way. Bet on the IPL here. 18+ please gamble responsibly
Instead, he blocked his first three balls.
The defense of Kedar Jadhav in the 17th over when team needed 40 runs. Absolute GOLD 😍😍 pic.twitter.com/rdABvN1B6X
— rea (@reaadubey) October 7, 2020
Soon enough, he realised a change was needed. Unfortunately, it didn’t have the desired effect.
Kedar Jadhav after being on 5 from 7 deliveries changed his bat just to score 2 more runs in the final 5 balls.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 7, 2020
CSK eventually lost by 10 runs, despite Ravindra Jadeja hitting 21 off eight balls, including 14 off the last three of the game. The jokes were plentiful.
Which moment did you love the most in Kedar Jadhav's Amara Kaviyam, a grand 7* off 12 to safely see off the day's play?
Playing 3 dots with 3 cute defenses of his first 3 balls?
Bat change in the 19th over?
20th over first ball, denying the single, edho adichi kuduka pora maari?— Srini Mama (@SriniMaama16) October 7, 2020
When you're fielding and only 39 runs are needed but you know Kedar Jadhav is batting pic.twitter.com/Rz0V4TwMU0
— Mohd Nadeem (@nadducappuccino) October 7, 2020
Kedar Jadhav Weak Zones today!! pic.twitter.com/lMzQvVvqyy
— Ethir Katchi (@sudhanks) October 7, 2020
Kedar jadhav's role in CSK.
pic.twitter.com/FAimjJD9kS— Mask 🎭 (@Mr_LoLwa) October 7, 2020
Some remembered the ‘good’ times, such as when Jadhav top scored for Royal Challengers Bangalore … but only scored 9.
https://twitter.com/WestLondonBlue3/status/1313907999698808841
There was one man who might have been smiling. Dhoni had managed just 10 off 11 balls, but Jadhav’s performance took the heat off him. It’s important to always keep the captain happy!
When you don’t play well but everyone blames Kedar Jadhav for the loss pic.twitter.com/K8ovjZvSgP
— Saharsh (@whysaharsh) October 7, 2020
