Ten games, seven losses, just six points and a place right at the bottom of the table. That’s not what the Chennai Super Kings are used to, not to mention their fans, and MS Dhoni conceded after the team’s last seven-wicket loss to the Rajasthan Royals that “this season we weren’t really there.”
As for the younger players in the squad, who, perhaps, could have been given a chance when the team failed, Dhoni was blunt and said “maybe we didn’t see the kind of spark” that would have forced management. to change things. around.
“We tried a few things – it’s one thing you don’t want to do, you don’t want to make too many cuts and changes because what really happens is after three, four or five games you’re not really sure about anything,” Dhoni told Star Sports, the official stations, after the game in Abu Dhabi. “So you want to give the guys a fair chance. Then if you’re not acting you switch and go back to someone else and then you give them the same kind of career. Insecurity is something you really don’t want to prevail over.” costumes.
“This season, we really weren’t there. And besides, there were some opportunities for the youngsters and maybe we didn’t see the kind of spark they could have given us to say, okay, push.” [out] the experienced guy and maybe make room for them (the youngsters) “.
The Super Kings have sent 17 players so far, some due to injuries to regular players. And Dhoni said most of them would have a chance in the rest of the games, perhaps hinting that he had given up hope of a turnaround: Four wins out of four could give them a chance to qualify for the playoffs.
“Today, the result, what it really does is give those guys what’s left in our league stages, they’ll have a chance and they won’t have any real pressure on them,” he said. “They can come out and express themselves. And give us the option to see what the options are in the batting lineup or where they would like to hit.”
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Sanjay Manjrekar on Dhoni’s misinterpretation of the conditions against Rajasthan
Speaking in post-game media interaction, coach Stephen Fleming admitted the team was “quite depressed” and was struggling to stay “upbeat and positive” after the succession of poor results.
“It’s pretty bad to be honest and it’s pretty fair too,” he said of the mood at camp. “We’ve been close in a couple of games, but today we were completely outclassed. We knew it was a crucial game to stay in the competition and out of the chance to probably pass. But when you trust other results and changes for your own team , it is very difficult to be optimistic and positive. “
Dhoni’s hitting form has been poor (164 runs in nine innings with a strike rate of 125.19) and that has largely contributed to the three-time IPL champion Super Kings being in the unknown position. of being the table proppers.
“You always try to tackle things. It’s not always supposed to go your way. So what you try to see, go back to the process and see if the process is wrong or maybe we couldn’t execute it, how the performance was in the field.” explained. “The result is always the by-product of the process, so we keep coming back to that.
“What helps is that it really helps you think in a positive way. Because we play in front of our fans and millions of other people, so there’s not much you can hide. But the fact is, if you’re more busy with the process, then that undue pressure for results does not enter the locker room. “
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