IPL 2022: Anything below 130 is always difficult is defend – MS Dhoni after loss against MI

Chennai Super Kings were skittled out for a paltry score of 97 runs against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday in the ongoing IPL 2022. MI chased down the total inside 15 overs and with five wickets to spare after some early hiccups, knocking their arch-rivals out of the tournament.

97 is Chennai’s second-lowest total in the history of the Tata IPL. Incidentally, their lowest ever score (79) came against Mumbai Indians at the same venue of Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai back in 2013.

Meanwhile, Chennai didn’t have the rub of the green on their side as Devon Conway couldn’t review his LBW call due to power cut issues when the ball was clearly drifting down the leg side. The ball swung both ways and CSK was soon on the mat at 32-5 in the PowerPlay overs.

However, MS Dhoni was proud of the way his two young fast bowlers – Mukesh Chaudhary and Simarjeet Singh – bowled in the PowerPlay overs. With nothing to lose, CSK’s opening pair breathed down the neck of the MI batters and had the five-time champions at 33-4 inside the first five overs. Chaudhary got the ball to move back into the right-handers to plumb pinch-hitter Daniel Sams and debutant Tristan Stubbs before Ishan Kishan nicked one to the keeper.

While Chaudhary got the ball to move back into the right-handers, Simarjeet Singh got the ball to move away from Rohit Sharma to take his bat’s outside edge. Dhoni was happy to note these young fast bowlers’ progress and feels the team’s fast bowling battery will be strengthened in the next season.

MS Dhoni said in the post-match presentation, “Irrespective of how the wicket is, anything below 130 is difficult to defend, but what I asked the bowlers was to show a lot of character and forget about the result. Both the young fast bowlers bowled really well and I feel a game like this really helps them in believing in themselves that irrespective of the conditions, whenever we start we need to have the same kind of attitude and that’s what is needed in the shortest format. We have gone through periods where we never really had that extraordinary bench of fast bowlers. Also, fast bowlers, take their time to mature, if you are lucky you get somebody who can feature in all formats in six months’ time and that is what IPL is doing and it is an opportunity for a lot of them.”

He added, “They bowl a bit courageous now which is very important in a format like this. And some players take their time before executing their plans better. The fast bowlers to have both of them really well is a big positive, and also we will have two more fast bowlers coming into the next season, also we have a few more up the sleeves, just want to give ample time for them to prepare. It’s the first few deliveries that are important when you are batting under that kind of pressure, so it was a chance of survival. Once they are past those first few deliveries, they can be themselves. It didn’t pay off today but I think they bowled really well. A bit of application was needed from our side, and a few of the batters got out on good deliveries, hopefully, they are learning with each and every game.”

CSK will next take on Gujarat Titans at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday.