Harbhajan Singh, only a couple of months away from turning 39, proved age is just number. The veteran off-spinner once again played a crucial role in Chennai Super Kings’ 6-wicket win over Delhi Capitals on Friday at Visakhapatnam that took them to their 8th IPL final.
Harbhajan picked up two crucial wickets and helped CSK restrict DC to a modest total of 147 for 9 on a sluggish track.Harbhajan gave DC a body blow by removing Shikhar Dhawan for 18 in the final over of the Powerplay. Rutherford became Harbhajan’s second victim towards the back-end of the DC innings. Harbhajan finished with figures of 4-0-31-2.
Harbhajan 150*
In the process Harbhajan also became only the fourth cricketer in the history of IPL to get to 150 wickets. Harbhajan is only the third Indian to do so and he currently stands at No. 3 in the highest wicket-takers’ list of IPL only behind Lasith Malinga (169) and Amit Mishra (157). Both Harbhajan and Piyush Chawla have 150 wickets but the off-spinner has a better economy(7.05) rate than the latter.
{{/usCountry}}In the process Harbhajan also became only the fourth cricketer in the history of IPL to get to 150 wickets. Harbhajan is only the third Indian to do so and he currently stands at No. 3 in the highest wicket-takers’ list of IPL only behind Lasith Malinga (169) and Amit Mishra (157). Both Harbhajan and Piyush Chawla have 150 wickets but the off-spinner has a better economy(7.05) rate than the latter.
{{/usCountry}}Nemesis of DC
Harbhajan’s tally of wickets against Delhi Capitals went up to 24 – the highest number of wickets taken by a bowler in the IPL against DC.
Good season
Harbhajan Singh’s wicket tally now is 16 wickets in this season. This is 1 more than what he had taken in his previous 2 seasons combined. This is the 4th time that Harbhajan Singh has managed to pick up atleast 15 wickets in a single IPL season. He now is the joint 2nd to do so.
CSK captain Dhoni too credited his spinners for their victory against DC.
“I think the credit needs to go to the spinners: the captain only asks them that I will use you at this point of time. When they get the ball, it’s up to them. Experience counts, but they have to do the hard yards to stay fit for 45-50 days and be at their best and playing in hot conditions,” said Dhoni after the Qualifier 2 match.
The victory marked the 100th IPL win for CSK – only the second side after Mumbai Indians to achieve the feat. Chennai Super Kings will take on Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2019 final at Hyderabad on Sunday. This will be the 4th time the two sides will face-off in an IPL final.