Chennai Super Kings failed to defend 188/7 against Delhi Capitals.
CSK posted a massive total of 188/7 on the board after being asked to bat first, but DC overhauled the target in just 18.4 overs on the back of blistering half-centuries from Shikhar Dhawan (85 off 54 balls) and Prithvi Shaw (72 off 38 balls).
“We could have bowled slightly better, and if batters are hitting you over the fields, that’s fair enough.
“The execution of the bowlers was poor and there were boundary balls that they bowled, but the bowlers will have learned and they will apply that in the future games,” Dhoni said at the post-match press conference.
The CSK captain admitted that the dew factor played in their minds.
“A lot depended on dew, and that factor played on our mind from the start and that’s why we wanted to get as many runs as possible.
“The batters did a good job to reach 188, because it was tacky until dew settled in 50 minutes later. The opposition have half an hour advantage in a 7:30 start, when the pitch is really tacky and the ball stops a bit, so we need to get 15-20 runs extra to be safe.
“If we get dew consistently, then 200 will be a must on a pitch like this. The bowlers bowled a great line when it was stopping and seaming a bit, and the openers got really good balls in which they got out and that can happen in a game like this,” Dhoni said.
Earlier, Suresh Raina announced his IPL comeback with a brilliant knock of 54 in 36 deliveries. Moeen Ali (36 off 24 balls), Sam Curran (34 off 15 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (26* off 17 balls) also made significant contributors with the bat for CSK.
Chennai Super Kings will take on Punjab Kings in their next game on April 16 at the Wankhede Stadium.
(With PTI inputs)