Hussey Praises Kartik Sharma and Urvil Patel Before Gt Vs Csk
Michael Hussey backed Chennai Super Kings' younger batters before gt vs csk, with Kartik Sharma and Urvil Patel drawing the strongest praise ahead of Wednesday's trip to Ahmedabad. CSK need a win to reach 14 points and keep their playoff hopes alive if other results fall their way.
Hussey on Urvil Patel
Urvil Patel has been the most explosive of the group Hussey highlighted. In six matches, he has 129 runs from six innings at an average of 21.50 and a strike rate of 208.06, with one fifty. He tied Yashasvi Jaiswal for the joint-fastest fifty in IPL history when he reached the mark in 13 balls against Lucknow Super Giants.
"I am very excited about what we have seen. Urvil has only had a few opportunities at the IPL level, and he has shown he has got amazing power and amazing talent, and hopefully, he will just get better and better the more he plays", Hussey said.
Kartik Sharma and Ayush Mhatre
Kartik Sharma has given CSK more stable returns. He has 276 runs in 10 matches and 10 innings, averaging 34.50 with a strike rate of 137.31, plus two fifties and a best of 71. Hussey said he looks like "a real player of the future" and added that he looks forward to watching him in a yellow shirt for "hopefully the next decade."
Ayush Mhatre is the other young name Hussey singled out. Last season he showed a glimpse of what he could do, and this season he built on that before injury ruled him out midway through the tournament. Before that setback, he had 201 runs in six innings at an average of 33.50 and a strike rate of over 177, with two fifties and a best score of 73.
Prashant Veer in yellow
Prashant Veer also earned a direct mention from the CSK batting coach. Veer has 90 runs in five innings across six matches at an average of 45.00 and a strike rate of 134.32, with a best score of 43. He also bowled two overs without taking a wicket.
"I think he has really improved, even from the two or three months that we have been together. Watching him grow as a person and as a player over the last few months, the way he has practised has been really nice to watch, and see his confidence grow as well. So I think the small improvements he has made this year will hold him in great stead for hopefully many seasons to come in yellow", Hussey said.
Those numbers leave CSK leaning on youth at the sharp end of the season. A win on Wednesday would take them to 14 points, and they would still need other results to go their way to stay in the playoff race.
