New Delhi: Has Chennai Super Kings (CSK) given up already? Well, it seemed so after watching captain MS Dhoni speak at the post-match presentation following a hammering from Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. MI registered a clinical victory by nine wickets, eking out revenge of the first-leg encounter between the two arch-nemesis, where CSK won by four wickets, their first and one of the only two wins of the season.
As things stood after CSK had played six games, they were to win a minimum of seven out of the eight remaining games to get to 16 points in order to qualify for the playoffs. They did manage a win in their seventh fixture (vs LSG) but went down against MI on Sunday, which means they can’t lose even a single of their remaining six fixtures from now onward. A win is must in all the games with a positive net run rate.
Although there will be an outside of chance of them getting qualified with 14 points (like RCB last year), many things would have to go straight for that. Nonetheless, Dhoni was visibly disappointed with his team’s below par performance in the second El Clasico of the season. Despite 17 year old Ayush Mhatre being roped in place of Rahul Tripathi, and Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube hitting fifties, CSK endured an embarrassing loss.
Dhoni talked about several aspects of the game involving the batters and the bowlers, and when he was about to conclude his statement, he dropped a major remark on the franchise’s chance of playoff qualification. “We are just trying to plug in the holes, with all the games that are in front of us that we are supposed to win. We just take it one game at a time, and if we lose a few, what will be important for us is to get the right combination for next year,” Dhoni perceived.
“You don’t want too many players getting changed. What will be important is to try and qualify, but if not, get a secured XI for next year and come back strong,” he concluded.
All done for CSK?
Many fans on the internet have taken this statement as CSK putting the white flag up, having accepted their fate in the ongoing tournament, and given up. Meanwhile, there’s also a section of fans which still holds belief in CSK and Dhoni and are relying on the complex qualification scenario in which CSK will have to claim their remaining six fixtures to get to 16 points anyhow.
This was CSK’s sixth loss of the season and they stay at the rock-bottom of the points table with only four points coming out of two wins in eight clashes. Mumbai has climbed to the sixth spot, result of a brilliant turnaround as they registered their third win on the trot on Sunday. Having played eight games, they have got four wins and losses alike and holds eight points to their credit.
CSK and MI’s next clash is against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as the former will face the Pat Cummins-led side on April 25 while the latter will face them on April 23.
MS Dhoni had a rather blunt take on CSK’s crushing defeat against MI as his side’s playoffs hopes were severely dented, enduring their sixth loss of the season at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
