Before the 2020 IPL, MS Dhoni had hit No. 7, the lowest he has ever hit in the tournament, just six times in 12 years. However, in the two games the Chennai Super Kings have played this year, Dhoni has come out at No. 7 both times, in a winning cause against the Mumbai Indians first, and in a loss against the Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday. .
Dhoni said his lack of time in between (his match against Mumbai was his first competitive match in 437 days after India’s defeat in the World Cup semifinals to New Zealand in 2019) was the main reason for his relegation. in the order.
“Oh, I haven’t hit in a long time, you know, and the 14-day quarantine doesn’t really help,” he told Star, the host announcer, about his batting position. “[I’m] slowly trying to enter the tournament. Also at the same time we want to try some different things like Sam [Curran] or [Ravindra] Haha, sending them.
“It’s something that we haven’t done for a long time and this gives us the opportunity to do it, at the beginning of the tournament. And as the tournament progresses, you’ll see the older players step in and take that responsibility, but otherwise we’ve been a team that has continued to do the same thing. I feel like we have an opportunity here where we can try a few different things if it works. If it doesn’t work, we can always go back to where we are. “
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Dhoni went 114-of-5 in the 14th over, and was 9-of-12 before looting 20 runs from the five balls he faced in the final over. That led the Super Kings to 200 for 6, a 16-run loss after the Royals racked up 216 for 7.
Stephen Fleming, the Super Kings coach, echoed Dhoni’s words in the post-match press conference and maintained that in terms of overs remaining, the captain arrived at the right time.
“We have this question every year,” Fleming said when asked if Dhoni was too late. “He was in the twelfth most [it was actually the 14th over], which is a pretty optimal time, and somehow he hit accordingly. He’s coming back from not playing much cricket, so expectations, seeing him at his best, will take some time. But you see it towards the end, it was very good. Faf du Plessis took the form, so we weren’t too far behind. To be honest, it wasn’t the hitting that was worrying. “
Dhoni felt the Super Kings’ start wasn’t good enough in high chase, and he also said the team needed to do a better job controlling things they could, like avoiding bowling without balls. While he didn’t explicitly name Lungi Ngidi, Dhoni noted that the Royals could have been restricted without the extras. Ngidi pitched the final during innings, allowing 30 runs. He threw two no-balls during the finale, both of which were hit by six by Jofra Archer.
“I think with 217 on the board, we had to get off to a very good start, which was not the case,” Dhoni said. “At the same time, we also have to give credit to his pitchers because there was a lot of dew. That’s one thing you know, if you put runs on the board, then you’ve seen in the first few innings what a good length for bowling. in that wicket, and I think that’s what they did. They kept putting the ball in the same areas. Especially the spinners, they didn’t try too many different things.
“It was important at this wicket to keep it away from the hitters. Yeah, they’ll hit some shots, but at least you’re not confused. A smaller outfield, you know you’ll take a few hits from the back of the longs or shorts, you’ll take a hit when you play. I think it was a mistake our spinners made in the first two overs they threw, two each, after that we came back very well in the game.
“Without pointing out anyone, I think what we could have done, which is controllable, is [avoided] without balls. Even when under pressure, try not to give no balls because that is controllable. You can’t really control how the opposition hitter hits. I think it is an area where we can improve. If we could have restricted them to 200, it would have been a very good match. “
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