IPL 2025: Dhoni Suggests Early Slogging After CSK's Loss to MI
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Synopsis
In a post-match analysis, CSK's MS Dhoni acknowledged that his team fell short against MI, suggesting that they should have started slogging earlier to counter Mumbai's early death bowling. He praised rookie Ayush Mhatre's performance but stressed the need for improved fielding and emotional control amidst the team's recent defeats.
Key Takeaways
- Dhoni believes early slogging could have changed the game.
- Ayush Mhatre impressed in his debut match.
- CSK's fielding needs improvement.
- Emotional control is crucial for team performance.
- Condition of dew affected the batting in the second innings.
Mumbai, April 21 (NationPress) Stating that his team performed below expectations, Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni remarked on Sunday that his batters should have begun their slogging earlier, as their opponents Mumbai Indians initiated their death-bowling phase early in Match 38 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, which they lost by nine wickets.
After an early dismissal, CSK relied on an impressive 15-ball 32 from 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre and half-centuries from Shivam Dube (50) and Ravindra Jadeja (53 not out) to post 176/4 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first at the Wankhede Stadium.
Mumbai Indians excelled in their chase as Rohit Sharma hammered 76 off 45 balls (4x4, 6x6) and Suryakumar Yadav struck 68 off 30 (6x4, 5x6), leading them to a total of 177/1 in 15.4 overs, securing victory with 26 balls to spare.
Dhoni mentioned that they did not achieve a competitive score, especially since batting conditions were expected to improve in the second innings due to the dew.
"We were quite below par. We knew dew would set in during the second half. (Jasprit) Bumrah is among the top death bowlers globally; MI began their death bowling early, and we should have initiated our slogging sooner. We needed to capitalize and accumulate those runs," Dhoni stated during the post-match presentation.
"The odd ball was gripping, and they handled spin effectively. We never reached a par score. If you concede too many runs in the first six overs, it gets challenging," Dhoni added.
The former captain lauded the debutant Ayush Mhatre for his bold batting, which laid the groundwork for Dube and Ravindra Jadeja to capitalize.
"[Mhatre] played well; he selected his shots wisely. He was eager to showcase his skills, and we haven't observed much of him before," he said.
He reiterated concerns about Chennai Super Kings' fielding and emphasized that his players should not become overly emotional about their recent losing streak.
"We need to recognize that our success stems from playing quality cricket. However, we must avoid excessive emotions. We need to assess if we are executing the right style of cricket and aiming for appropriate run totals.
"Improving our catching can make a difference; we are working to address our shortcomings. We need to take it one game at a time and evaluate combinations for the upcoming season, especially if we fail to qualify," the esteemed captain concluded.
