IPL 2018: MS Dhoni asks for a better show from the bowlers
Dec 23, 2018 at 10:57 AM
So finally, there got a halt station for Chennai Super Kings as Kolkata Knight Riders fetched an easy-peasy victory at Eden Gardens. The solid knock from Shubman Gill and the collective effort from Kolkata’s spin department sealed the game for the home side. Be it bowling with spinners in the death or using youngsters in the chase, the captaincy of Dinesh Karthik is the worth mention.
Ball was coming nicely under the lights: MS Dhoni on nature of the wicket
Speaking of the match in the post-match presentation, MS Dhoni cited that the wicket changed dramatically which made the life hard for the bowlers. But, he termed the loss as the disappointment and asked the bowlers to step up for the cause in future assignments.
‘If the wicket remained the same the total was decent, I felt this wicket was on the slower side but you have to hit the seam hard. When you are bowling the slower ball, if you can hit the seam then you can generate variable bounce. In the second half wicket became much better under the lights. The easy way is to compare the two balls after 20 overs. Second ball will be in the better shape. Ball was coming nicely under the lights,” MS Dhoni said.
Fielders need to be attentive in the field: MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni furtherly asked the fielders to take a cue from Michael Hussey fielding when he played for CSK in his late stages of the cricketing career. Dhoni didn’t claim fielders to be quick but asked to be attentive in order to grasp that extra second of time to be agile on the field.
”Overall disappointed with the loss, we need to do better than this in the bowling department. We knew the kind of fielding we will do after the team was picked. But what is more disappointing is guys are not aware on the field. Your speed might not be too much but you have to be attentive in the field. The classic example is Hussey, when he was playing for CSK he was not the quickest but he used to anticipate really well and that used to give him extra second. That is the kind of commitment needed in the field,” he added.
Bowlers need to vary their Pace: CSK Skipper
MS Dhoni asked bowlers to differ their speeds while bowling in the crucial junctures of the game. However, he concluded it by saying that bowler will ultimately bowl of his own despite saying a lot to him ahead of the delivery.
‘If no one is bowling well, keep shuffling bowlers around. If no one does well, game will be over soon. We are slightly on and off in the field. Keeping it simple helps, I think bowlers need to vary their pace and you need to be aware of the strengths of the batsmen and accordingly you need to bowl. You can tell bowler a lot but when they have ball in the hand they are on their own,” he concluded.
However, the win ensured Kolkata Knight Riders to near the playoffs stage and kept their position steady at number 3 slot with 10 points and a better net-run-rate to their name. Despite losing the game, Chennai Super Kings stationed themselves at top of the points table with 12 points in their kitty.