TV
In a rare instance, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the usually calm, composed and unflappable leader of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), lost his cool following a five-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Though renowned for his calm demeanour, Dhoni articulated his frustration with the team's lack of cohesion. "It's disappointing when we're not playing as a team," he remarked, reflecting the mounting difficulties for CSK during this IPL campaign.
Poor Performance Highlights CSK's Plight
The Super Kings set a modest target of 154 runs on a pitch widely regarded as manageable. However, SRH chased the score in 18.4 overs, pushing CSK to the bottom of the IPL points table with just two wins from nine matches.
Post-match, Dhoni did not hold back. He admitted, "Our total was not enough on this pitch." He pointed out the challenge when several players underperform at once and noted that SRH, too, faced hurdles in the second innings, yet CSK did not capitalise on the opportunity to exert pressure.
Frustration Evident in Dhoni's Remarks
“I think we kept losing wickets and another thing is that in the first innings, the wicket was slightly better, and 157 wasn’t a justifiable score,” Dhoni said after CSK’s loss.
“It wasn’t turning a lot, a little two-paced, but nothing out of the ordinary. Yes, second innings, there was a bit of help. Our spinners, the quality was there and they were bowling in the right areas, but we were 15-20 runs short,” he added.
“In a tournament like this, if there are one or two areas to plug in the holes, it’s good, but when a majority of the players are not doing well, you need to make changes. You can’t just keep going. We are just not putting enough runs on the board,” Dhoni further stated.
Sunrisers' Climb Within the Table
The victory propelled Sunrisers Hyderabad to the eighth position, with three wins and six losses, amounting to six points. Meanwhile, for CSK, internal disarray and the absence of teamwork remain pivotal concerns.
