MS Dhoni Holds the Middle Overs Slump as the Reason for Loss against Rajasthan Royals in IPL
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Chennai Super Kings lost to Rajasthan Royals in an IPL match from a three-run defeat. Mahendra Singh Dhoni who scored 32 runs off 17 balls said that the reason was the middle-overs slump and they could not manage to hit a six in the last ball. However, Dhoni feels that the fate of the match was already sealed between the 7th and 15th over, where Moeen Ali (7 off 10 balls), Shivam Dube (8 off 9 balls), and Devon Conway (50 off 38 balls), could not compete against Yuzvendra Chahal (2/27) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/25).
In the post-match presentation ceremony, Dhoni commented that in the middle period, there were several dot balls and there was not much juice for spinners. It is fine if the ball stops and turns off the surface. However, that did not happen. Ravindra Jadeja and Dhoni were batting as the last pair and that was too early in the tournament. This was the reason they could not go hard as they had to keep NRR in mind. There were several overs still to go. So, they would have to be stable and keep it a bit late in the mid-match.
Dhoni also said that they could not go for runs immediately and had to take more singles, but wished for some more of it. He did hit three big sixes and said that he was up for it, just waiting for the bowler to make the mistakes and give him the chance. According to Dhoni, he does not fancy too many things and when the bowler is under pressure, he is bound to make a few errors and that happened in the last overs. He also said that he likes to hit straight and that is his strength, and everyone should back themselves at hard moments.
At the same time, Dhoni was not happy about the batters not being able to take benefit of the dew factor. In the first few overs, there was some due and it got easier for them. And they should have been able to cash on it and bat better when they had the opportunity. The bowlers however performed well. According to Dhoni; he is not much concerned about milestones. He has captained 200 games now and it does not matter if it is the 200th game or the 199th. He said this is normal and nothing special, but thanked the almighty for the grace.
Sanju Samson, the winning skipper appreciated the bowlers from his team for being calm as the situation for tense at the end. Samson said that he wanted to win today as earlier they had not won in Chepauk. The bowlers bowled really well and kept their cool. Also, they held important catches. He said that Dhoni is a respectful player and he deserves it because he does things that only he can do and it is never safe with him, nothing works against that guy. He tried to push in deep but the last two overs were difficult.
