MS Dhoni, captain of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), took responsibility for the narrow two-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Chinnaswamy Stadium. CSK needed 35 runs from the last 18 balls and 15 from the final six, but ultimately fell short, scoring 212 while chasing a target of 214. The result denied them crucial points.
Coming in during the 17th over with Ravindra Jadeja, Dhoni managed to score 12 from eight deliveries, including a single six but no boundaries. With four singles in the mix, he aimed for a big hit at the end of the penultimate over. However, he was dismissed lbw in the final over by Yash Dayal, leaving CSK needing 13 from the final three balls.
Dhoni admitted his role in the game’s outcome, acknowledging, “I should have converted maybe a couple more shots, and that would have eased the pressure.”
RCB set a formidable target following Romario Shepherd’s explosive batting in the final overs, where he added 54 runs, finishing unbeaten at 53 from merely 14 balls. Dhoni highlighted Shepherd’s impact, stating, “Romario Shepherd, in the death overs, was brilliant. Whatever our bowlers were bowling, he was able to get maximum runs.”
Reflecting on his bowlers’ performance during the crucial death overs, Dhoni pointed out the significance of executing yorkers, a type of delivery aimed at the batsman’s feet. “We need to practise more yorkers because… if you’re looking for a perfect yorker, [and] if that doesn’t happen, a low full toss is the next best thing.”
Dhoni singled out Matheesha Pathirana, recognising his pace and his ability to deliver bouncers, offering versatility when yorkers aren’t effective. “He can bowl a bouncer… keep the batsman guessing,” he suggested, pointing to the strategy of alternating deliveries to unsettle batters.
Yash Dayal, celebrated for his restraint in the final over, played a crucial role in sealing RCB’s victory. After a couple of singles and Dhoni’s dismissal, Dayal’s over included a high-pressure moment, conceding a no-ball that was hit for six by Shivam Dube. Despite this, Dayal maintained composure, allowing only three further runs.
RCB’s batting coach, Dinesh Karthik, commended Dayal’s clutch performance stating, “Well, it’ll take a humongous effort to stop them scoring the runs that were left in the last over. But Yash being Yash, the way he delivered, [it was] outstanding.”
The game’s tight finish was a testament to both teams’ competitive spirit, leaving CSK and Dhoni contemplating areas for improvement, particularly in the critical death overs.
