IPL: Brendon McCullum is the lethal edge of CSK’s broadsword

In a poll during the official broadcast on television last night, 83 percent respondents voted Chennai Super Kings as the most consistent IPL side. Now, that is a huge number and is testament to the kind of stability that this team has had over the years. But then again, while the results of the poll were flashed on TV, Brendon McCullum was treating the whistle podu brigade to a completely new kind of manic. We have seen him do it for the Black Caps for a while, we even saw him do it for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the first ever match of the IPL all those years back but to see him do it in yellow for the Chennai Super Kings took on a whole new meaning. [caption id=“attachment_2193347” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Brendon McCullum made the IPL’s first hundred. BCCI[/caption] Most sides have a ‘horses for courses’ policy. Chennai, on the other hand, seem to believe they have a side that can tackle all courses with a fair degree of excellence. So once again, against Sunrisers Hyderabad, they fielded an unchanged side. Chennai’s stability means that very rarely does their game collapse completely. But to have someone who is brimming with aggressive intent right at the top of the order also means that teams have to come out looking for a wicket right away. They can’t think of hiding their best bowler away (as Mumbai did with Malinga the other day) McCullum’s approach has been consistent – he attacks from the get go. He attacks even when one may perhaps think that he needs to hold back. The result of telegraphing his intent to the opposition so clearly is that they know they need to send him back to the hut or he will wreak havoc. His 100 off 56 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad was typical. He charged the fast bowlers and spinners alike. When they got used to him charging, he used the crease and in between, there were a few sixes over the wicket-keeper’s head. It was mostly power-hitting. He does not believe in nudging it around. In the post-match conference, McCullum said he was a little circumspect at the start of his innings. In normal jargon that would have meant he played out a few deliveries calmly. But instead, he smacked the first ball he faced for four, the fifth ball he faced disappeared for six. In 11 balls, he had 16 runs and he had not even started yet. From that point on, McCullum threw caution to the winds. < His 50 came off 38 balls (4x4, 5x6). His 100 needed only 18 more balls. And that is the thing about McCullum – if he stays in, the opposition will be in trouble and the chances of CSK winning will go up significantly. Of course, given his approach, there will be times when he will fall early but for times like that Chennai have their stability to fall back on. At the moment, though, McCullum is the lethal edge to Chennai’s broadsword. And if nothing else – this replicates the effect of having an in-form Virender Sehwag at the top of the order. What Sehwag did for India… McCullum is doing for Chennai. At least, as long as McCullum’s ride continues, we will all be sitting at the edge of our seats when he comes out to bat… watching him bat can never get boring.