The win against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) made Chennai Super Kings (CSK) led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni to be the only team in the tournament to beat all the oppositions at least once in the league stage.
Coming to an enticing clash against Kings XI, it was all Lungi Ngidi and the other seamers in the first innings while the second innings saw how to tackle an opposition who are on top of their game.
Sending in Bhajji and Chahar creates chaos for KXIP: MS Dhoni
It was the moment when Ankit Rajpoot was delivering absolute peach to the batsmen. He already sent back two crucial CSK batsmen and was looked strong enough to trouble any kind of the batsmen.
Surprisingly, Dhoni asked Harbhajan Singh to play at No.4 which made a sudden change in bowling plans from Punjab which eventually saw CSK coming out from initial jolts.
”If you see their bowling line-up, it was definitely swinging a bit more for Ankit. From a captain’s perspective, you want to take as many wickets upfront. So sending in Bhajji and Chahar creates chaos. The bowlers all of a sudden bowl yorkers and bouncers. When batsmen are batting, they stick to a good line and length, but against Bhajji and Chahar, they lose their line and lengths, instead of sticking to the plan. Plus Bhajji and Chahar could come in handy during the playoffs,” Dhoni said at the presentation.
The Jharkhand-based cricketer Dhoni has expressed satisfaction owing to the result in the IPL.
”We kept adding players and they kept performing. The big shift will be after two years, where most of these players won’t be there. Maybe they won’t be fit for the shortest format. Looking at ten years, it has been very good for us. We like to do the process right because that’s what gives you the result,” he added.
Important to be at your best on that particular day: MS Dhoni on playoffs’ stage
Speaking of the all-important stage of the tourney, Dhoni added that he is part of the few finals and asserted he noticed few things which need to be done right in order to secure those crucial moments of the game.
The experienced campaigner Mahendra Singh Dhoni went on to add saying that one should be at their best on that particular day in order to come out with flying colours.
”We like to do the process right because that’s what gives you the result. There are quite a few finals where I still remember what went wrong. When the format is like this, just a couple of big hits or a run-out can change things. Everyone wants to win. They’ve done well to go into the knockout stages. The top two teams they get an extra life. What’s important is to be at your best on that particular day,” he concluded.
All in all, the league stage has been done and dusted and the four deserving teams have been placed at the top four.
In qualifier on, Super Kings will take on top-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) while Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will lock horns with Rajasthan Royals (RR).