Chennai Super Kings ended their miserable IPL 2022 after managing to win just four of their 14 games. In their final game of the season, the four-time IPL champions suffered a five-wicket defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals after handing them 151 wins, a target of CSK captain MS Dhoni estimated that this was not enough.
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CSK opted to beat first and Moeen Ali led them to a blistering start in the Powerplay as they went 75/1 in 6 overs. However, after that the rounds gradually slowed down and they eventually finished with 150/6.
Dhoni said the team was playing one batter short and 10-15 runs short of establishing what would have been an ideal goal.
“What we have to realize is that we play a lightweight drummer. Once we lost those quick wickets, Moeen had to change its momentum. I think if one of the hitters had hit with him, he could have kept the momentum going,” Dhoni said in a chat with the broadcaster.
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“Role and responsibility were swapped slightly once we lost those wickets and that made it really difficult. So a lightweight hitter with the back four, they’re not really known for their hitter. If we went hard and lost another wicket there, we would have nothing to defend,” he added.
Dhoni said the timing of the first six overs would have been crucial to the final result. “You have to bowl well after that. If their openers start and they get too many in the top six, then 180 isn’t enough either. Depending on the par, whatever the par, the tee is important, the first six overs especially on wickets which are really nice. So I definitely feel 15 points short,” he said.
Dhoni, who had earlier confirmed that he would be back as a player in IPL 2023, praised several CSK debutants including left arm pacer Mukesh Choudhary.
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“Whatever games they have, they have learned a lot from it. One of the biggest examples is Mukesh. He has played every game but what is impressive is seeing from the first game to the last game how he’s improved, how he can play the death. Yet what he’ll do is go back and learn from the outings he’s made. That’s what we really expect from players,” said Dhoni.
Several uncapped players made their debuts for CSK during the season, including Mukesh, Prashant Solanki, Simarjeet Singh and Matheesha Pathirana (abroad).
“Once they get that experience, what’s important from next year, once they get out of the IPL, is that they don’t start from scratch. This is what the youngsters need and most of them have made the most of every chance they have had,” said Dhoni.
Overall, Dhoni felt that CSK did well in the fixes and stressed that the franchise was building a team for the future. He advised the youngster to keep learning and not treat the IPL as a one-year event to ensure a long and successful career.
“We did well in the patches, but what’s important is to keep doing well as a team. The bottom line is that every chance you get, once you’re there, you need to make the most of it, whether you’re a bowler or a batter, and keep learning. It’s not a one-year tournament. You come back year after year. So once you keep learning and once you’ve matured, that’s when you capitalize and become a great IPL player for the next 10-12 years. That’s what you need in young people,” he said.
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