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IPL 2021 Weekly Roundup: CSK strengthen hold at the top of the table

Another week, another set of action-packed matches in IPL 2021. What has been witnessed is a set of stunning performances by players and excellent captaincy decisions, with half the season almost done, here’s a roundup of all games in week three of IPL 2021.

On top of the table are Chennai Super Kings, delivering quality team performances to clinch comfortable victories.  Ravindra Jadeja was the star player for the team against RCB, taking three wickets and scoring 37 runs in a single over to register the win. The team also defeated Sunrisers as their openers, Du Plessis, and put on a show while chasing a decent total. CSK has been executing plans to perfection in IPL 2021. If they keep going forward this way, then Dhoni’s men might just lift the trophy this year.

In the second position is Delhi Capitals, even though they lost a match against RCB by just one run, the actual thriller was their Super Over against SRH. The super over also went down until the final ball as DC huffed and puffed while chasing the target of eight runs. Delhi has been seeing spectacular performances by openers Shikhar Dhawan and especially Prithvi Shaw this week. The young batsman scored 82 off 41 against KKR. DC’s bowling unit has been in fine form with Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, and Amit Mishra shining throughout the week.

For the first time this season, the third spot was occupied by Royal Challengers Bangalore. They lost two out of the three matches this week, and both by big margins, which landed them in third place. The match that they won against DC was also a last-ball win. The reason for their losses this week was due to poor bowling in the death overs and failure of the batting unit to chase down targets. However, they remain on course to qualify for the knockout round.

In at number four are the reigning IPL champs, Mumbai Indians, who have been well a little off compared to their usual play. Change of venue brought a welcome change as they managed to clinch a comfortable win over Rajasthan Royals in New Delhi, courtesy of a good knock from Quinten de Kock. MI also dominated the bowling especially in the death overs with both Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult restricting Rajasthan to a below-par score.

Coming back up to the fifth place is Punjab Kings. The team started off the week with defeat at the hand of KKR but bounced back with a commanding win against RCB on Friday. Punjab is still heavily dependent on skipper KL Rahul, who delivered yet again scoring 91 against RCB. Young bowlers Harpreet Brar and Ravi Bishnoi also shone for Punjab during the win against Bangalore. It was a much-needed win as it brought them level on points with fourth-placed Mumbai Indians.

In sixth place is Kolkata Knight Riders as they lost two out of three games they played this week. While the team pulled a win over PBKS, there was no improvement in their individual performances, which has landed them on the sixth spot. They were brushed aside by Delhi in the week after they once again posted a below-par total. The batting lineup continues to struggle as star players fail to perform. It will need drastic improvement from every player if KKR wants to qualify for the playoffs.

Seventh Place has been taken by Rajasthan Royals. They have had a disappointing season, first with the injury issues with overseas players and then with inconsistent performances. Even though the team possesses talented players, they are not able to deliver good collective performances. Rajasthan will need the near-perfect second half of the season to make it to the next round.

Last on the table are Sunrisers Hyderabad as they have won just one game in IPL 2021. Warner’s struggles against Chennai Super Kings summed up SRH’s season. They have failed with both bat and ball throughout the season. The franchise has taken the drastic step to relieve Warner from captaincy, but it is a very tall task for them to make it to the playoffs.

After the third week of IPL 2021, here is how the points table stacks up with CSK leading the way.

RANKTEAMMATCHESWONLOST POINTSNRR
1.CSK65110+1.475
2.DC75210+0.466
3.RCB75210-0.171
4.MI6336+0.071
5.PBKS7346-0.264
6.KKR7254-0.494
7.RR6244-0.690
8.SRG6152-0.264

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