You don’t want to take too many early wickets: MS Dhoni

Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni reckoned that at times scalping early wickets might not help the team. His remarks came after CSK’s victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders. Chasing a massive target of 221 to win against CSK, KKR fell short by 18 runs as they lost all their wickets for 202 runs. It was a great effort by KKR as they were reduced to 31/5 at one point. Andre Russell and Pat Cummins smashed quick-fire fifties against CSK to take KKR closer to the target. However, their efforts couldn’t fetch them the desired results. Eoin Morgan and the team are now sixth in the IPL 2021 points table. The side needs to win at least six or seven of their next 10 games to have a chance at finishing in the playoff spots.

Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik and Pat Cummins were the top performers for Kolkata Knight Riders. The trio found the boundary with utmost ease and nearly brought the side back in the competition. Among them, Pat Cummins stayed unbeaten but couldn’t take his side over the line. Keeping in mind the threat Andre Russell possesses, MS Dhoni said that letting the big hitters in early may not work out well for the bowling department. 

I have seen enough in cricket; I always like to be humble: MS Dhoni

The former Indian skipper also said that Ravindra Jadeja had a chance of getting the Jamaican out due to a bit of turn on offer from the surface. Andre Russell scored 54 runs off 22 balls with the help of three boundaries and six sixes. Russel and Dinesh Karthik formed a crucial partnership of 81 runs for the sixth wicket. It was Sam Curran, who clean bowled the Jamaican down the legs, giving Chennai a sigh of relief.

The MS Dhoni-led side missed the playoffs last year for the very first time in the history of IPL. They were the first team to be knocked out of the competition for a playoff spot and ultimately finished seventh in the points table. Chennai Super Kings is one of the most consistent IPL teams. MS Dhoni-led side has qualified for the playoffs in ten out of eleven IPL seasons. The team has won three titles so far and are only behind arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (5) on the list of most titles won by the IPL franchises. Chennai Super Kings will next face Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday.

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