Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels dew played a huge role in their loss against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, May 14 at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. The hosts suffered a six-wicket loss, as Kolkata Knight Riders chased down 145 runs in the penultimate over, on the back of Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh’s partnership.
Batting first, Chennai Super Kings managed just 144 runs on the board. They were struggling at 72 runs for five wickets down in around eleven overs. Shivam Dubey and Ravindra Jadeja put together a 68-run stand, to take the team to a respectable total. In response, Kolkata Knight Riders were three down for just thirty-three runs. However, Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh’s partnership helped them to chase down the target comfortably.
Reacting to the Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni said at the post-match presentation,
“One of those days when you win the toss and bat first and the moment the first ball was bowled in the second innings, you realize it is a 180 wicket. Batting first I don’t think we could have got anywhere close to 180. I think the dew made a big difference. If you compare the first innings to the second innings, there was a lot more purchase for the spinners in the first innings and that’s what got to us.”
“So we can’t really blame any batter or bowler for this loss. They tried their best, but the conditions had a big impact on the game,” he added.
Very happy with the way Shivam Dubey has done: MS Dhoni
Shivam Dubey has been on terrific form for the Chennai Super Kings in the 2023 Indian Premier League season. He has scored 363 runs at an average of 40.33, and a strike rate of 157.14, with three fifties to his name. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni praised the all-rounder and expressed that the team wants him to continue performing this way. He said,
“Well we have spoken a lot, it should remain in the dressing room what we spoke to him. What are the areas he needs to work on. Very happy with the way he has done and it’s important for him to keep continuing game after game and not get satisfied with what he has done. He has done that job for us in the middle overs to get us as many runs as possible. So I just wish him that he keeps continuing.”
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