Bhubaneswar: As Subhranshu Senapati made a valiant effort to catch Rinku Singh on the boundary line at Eden Gardens on Sunday night, the Odisha captain’s foot touched the advertisement cushion and the ball slipped out of his hands and crossed the line.
The fortuitious six in the last over didn’t cost Chennai Super Kings the match, as Kolkata Knight Riders were well behind the steep target of 236.
His CSK teammates and skipper MS Dhoni applauded the wholehearted attempt by Subhranshu, who was substituting on the field for Ajinkya Rahane.
Subhranshu, a right-hand batter, is yet to figure as a playing member in any of CSK’s 7 matches so far in IPL 2023. But he has been named as one of the five substitutes in almost every game, including the one against KKR last night, and has come on replacement fielder from time to time.
According to new IPL rules being tried out from this season, being a substitute means Subhranshu can be called to do duty as an Impact Player any time Dhoni wants to. Especially if CSK are batting second and the team suffers a top-order batting collapse.
That hasn’t yet happened as the top four — openers Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahane and Shivam Dube — have been in sparkling form. Consequently, Dhoni has chosen a specialist bowler as an Impact Player more often than not, as his team sits atop the standing with 10 points.
However, Dhoni turning to Subhransu for a playing role cannot be ruled out as Captain Cool is known to back players who others feel don’t have a chance.
Young fast bowler Akash Singh and veteran Rahane – who lost his Team India berth due to poor form – are cases in point. Both have flourished with Dhoni’s backing this season.
Not all is lost for 26-year-old Subhranshu, as long as he remains patient and continues to make his presence felt in whatever role he is given.
