Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore are set to face each other in the first match of the IPL 2024 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk. Meanwhile, the former Australian opener Matthew Hayden feels that Virat Kohli’s batting performances have significantly declined in recent years of the IPL at the Chepauk.
Despite being the IPL’s highest run-scorer of all time, Virat Kohli has faced difficulties in delivering strong performances against CSK at Dhoni’s home ground since 2021. The former RCB skipper has shown a below-par performance against Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings at the Chepauk. While discussing Kohli’s decline in form at the venue, Hayden pointed out that the former RCB skipper has been dismissed three times out of five innings during the powerplays.
While having a conversation with Star Sports, Hayden said, “Virat enjoys a great record against the Chennai Super Kings but since 2021 in the power play MS Dhoni has done something different. In three out of the five innings, he’s gotten out within the power plays. Well, one thing is for certain, it is a blockbuster showdown, Virat Kohli pretty much this year is going to be celebrated across all the games. His average is 30 at Chepauk Stadium with a strike rate of 111.”
Hayden further added, “So straight away that shows the greatness of Virat has been reduced in terms of his overall performance at that venue. It is a tricky venue to bat on, especially as an opening batsman against a sort of weird tennis ball-type bounce. It’s quite slow and difficult, especially to play his shots early, and then the long he seems to bat the game opens up and that’s where Virat can be at his most dangerous.”
Former India captain Kohli was absent for the entire Test series against England due to personal reasons, and he has been inactive since January.
