Chennai Super Kings have had their first season and haven’t really been at their best in IPL 2020. They have won just three out of their 11 matches and are now knocked out of the tournament. After yesterday’s humiliating defeat to Mumbai Indians, MS Dhoni the Chennai Super Kings captain, has said his side is “hurting” after their eighth defeat to be rooted to the bottom of the points table. After the Super Kings laboured to 30 for 6 and then 114 for 9 in their 20 overs, the defending champions Mumbai Indians mowed down the target within 13 overs, handing the Super Kings their first ten-wicket defeat in the IPL, in Sharjah.
“Well, it does hurt and what you need to see is what are the things that are going wrong,” Dhoni told host broadcaster Star Sports at the post-match presentation. And especially this year hasn’t really been our year and everything apart from one or two games where we have batted and bowled well together and fielded well together…So, at the end of the day, whether you lose by eight wickets or ten wickets it hardly matters. Where we are in the state of the tournament, it will definitely hurt and I think all the players are hurting and they’re trying their best. It doesn’t always go your way, but hopefully in the next three games, we will try to maybe put our last stand.” He said. When asked if not playing at Chepauk affected CSK’s plan as well their overall performance MS Dhoni said “Whenever you’re not doing well, there can be hundred reasons, especially if you sit and pick up the reasons as to why we’re not doing well. But, the main thing you ask yourself or as a team is whether you’re playing to the potential that you’ve got. Like, say, whatever the conditions may be, when you put up a playing XI that looks good on paper, have they done enough to translating that good stats that they’ve got onto the field? I think this year, we’ve not done that and cumulatively when three or four of your batsmen aren’t doing well in the batting order, it becomes more and more difficult”
As there are 3 more games remaining Dhoni felt that shifting the focus for IPL 2021 would be ideal. It is important for us have a clear picture about next year,” he said. “There are a lot of ifs and buts: the kind of auction we are looking into next year, where the venues will be. It is always good to give guys who have not so far got enough chances to form a settled playing XI. You give them enough chances to really give them a platform where they can perform and show their talent.” He said