The Chennai Super Kings have a “man behind the stumps” who knows what is working for them, according to Hardik Pandya, who hailed MS Dhoni for his flawless game reading.
Hardik Pandya, the captain of the Mumbai Indians, complimented MS Dhoni on his exceptional game reading skills and mentioned that the Chennai Super Kings have a “man behind the stumps” who knows what strategies are working for them in any given match. After MI lost to CSK in the IPL 2024 match on Sunday, Hardik stated that his team was playing well during their 207-run chase. However, Matheesha Pathirana’s outstanding four-wicket haul proved to be the game-winning blow, as MI lost by 20 runs in the match.
“We could have chased the target, but their bowling was good. Pathirana made a big impact. They were clever with their plans and how they played. They figured things out, with Dhoni guiding them from behind the stumps. The pitch was tricky, making it harder for us.”
“After Pathirana came in and took those two wickets, things got tough for us in the run chase. We were doing alright until then. Maybe we could’ve tried something different at that point. Personally, I believe in playing smart cricket. It might have been harder for Dube against seamers instead of spinners. We’ve got four away games ahead, so we need to stay focused and keep up the intensity.”
Ruturaj Gaikwad, the captain of CSK, was all praise for Dhoni’s brilliant 20 off 4 balls, adding that the “young wicketkeeper scoring those three sixes” was a big part of how they won.
“The young wicketkeeper hitting those three sixes was a big boost for us. It made a real difference, giving us those extra runs we needed on this pitch. Bumrah bowled exceptionally well during the middle overs. Even though they hit some good shots, I think we did a great job executing our plans with the ball.”
Ruturaj also talked about the choice to have Ajinkya Rahane as the opening batsman.
“I would’ve preferred 60 runs in 6 overs during the powerplay. It’s crucial to be precise in both bowling and batting here. Our Malinga bowled exceptionally with those yorkers today, and Tushar and Shardul also did their part. Looking ahead, we just need to stick to our plans, keep it simple, and ensure everyone’s in a good mental space. We decided to have Jinks (Ajinkya Rahane) open because he was carrying a slight niggle. Personally, I’m okay batting anywhere, and being the captain adds to my responsibility.”
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