Chennai: It was CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s show this time around as the defending champions successfully registered their third win in as many games in the ongoing IPL after defeating Rajasthan Royals, here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Sunday.
At the start of the game, Rajasthan Royals bowlers did pretty well, picking up three wickets for 27 runs. It was then Dhoni’s show as his unbeaten 75 not only rescued the team but helped them post a challenging total of 175. The highlight of the innings was the last two overs bowled by Dhawal Kulkarni and Jaydev Unadkat, which fetched the home team 52 runs.
Chasing 176, the Royals looked down and out losing wickets upfront but Stokes and Archer provided the team a late surge as they brought the came closer. With 12 needed of six balls, Dwayne Bravo conceded only three runs to give a victory.
Speaking at the post-match conference, Imran Tahir, who returned with impressive figures of 23 runs in his quota of four overs, picking up two crucial wickets praised Dhoni for the victory. “Dhoni has done that (helping the team out from precarious situation) so many times. He has been through situations like that he has worked really hard. He works hard in the nets and also help other players and we respect that. He just knows how to lift the team and carry himself,” he said.
Conditions were not favourable for the bowlers as the dew was a major factor forcing teams to change balls at regular intervals. Speaking about it, Tahir said, “The condition was not favourable for us but we did well. Dew is something which is not in our hands and we can’t control that as it is a natural thing. We practised a lot in this ground which helped us but we were not expecting this much dew. We probably need to practice with wet balls, going forward in the games.”
On his performance, he said, “I have been given the job and I am pleased with the way I performed and did the job for the team. That is more important than achieving your own goals. We are just really happy for each other and enjoy our success that’s why we get the result in our way.”
Skipper MS Dhoni was adjudged the man of the match for his knock that enthralled the Chepauk crowd. He shared a 61 run partnership with Suresh Raina. He said “We wanted to get a partnership going – that was needed. We knew there was some dew on the field. We knew it would get easier as the game progresses. We bat quite deep – until 9 (Santner). We could accelerate in the last few overs, and we wanted to get a partnership going at that time.”
Speaking about the wet conditions he said ‘Initially I thought we would look at how the fast bowlers would bowl so we could bring in the spinners. Jadeja and Santner found it hard to grip the ball. Irrespective of the results, it is important to cut the boundaries and it is difficult for the fast bowlers to execute.’
Rahane Fined
Rajasthan Royals captain Ajinkya Rahane has been fined Rs 12 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during the IPL match between against Chennai Super Kings here.
“As it was his team’s first offence of the season under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offences, Rahane was fined Rs 12 lakh,” read an official IPL statement. The struggling outfit next host Royal Challengers Bangalore in Jaipur on Tuesday.