Before the match against Gujarat, there was a question whether Mustafizur Rahman would make way for returning pacer Matheesha Pathirana. After scalping 4 wickets and winning the man of the match award in the first match, Chennai Super Kings could not leave Mustafizur out. So, he was in the Chennai XI against Gujarat Titans on Tuesday. Pathirana was also there, but he came down as an impact sub for Shivam Dube before the bowling innings.
On Tuesday, these two pacers bowled so brilliantly that cricket experts and fanatics now want to see both of them in the Chennai starting lineup.
Mustafizur was wicketless in the first two overs on Tuesday, giving away 23 runs. However, Mustafizur came back strongly to bowl his last spell in the 'death overs'. In these two overs, the Bangladesh left-arm pacer gave away just seven runs and dismissed two Gujarat Titans hard-hitters Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia.
On the other hand, death overs specialist Pathirana also bowled brilliantly. He bowled 4 overs and gave away 29 runs, taking 1 wicket. He gave away 15 runs in the last two overs. In other words, these two fast bowlers conceded just 22 runs in 4 overs in the death overs. That is why experts want both of them in the team.
Asked who would return to the XI in place of Maheesh Theekshana, who was dropped from the Gujarat match, Mitchell McClenaghan said on ESPNcricinfo's post-match show, "He might be back. But looking at the wicket at the moment, it doesn't seem like he will be back right now. The two slower balls Mustafizur bowled at the end were brilliant. The wicket didn't help much either. Pathirana also bowled very fast today."
Mustafizur's next match is on March 31, against Delhi Capitals, on their home ground.