New Delhi: MS Dhoni blamed himself for Chennai Super Kings’ two-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL 2025 game. Chasing a 2014-run target, five-time champions CSK were stopped at 221 for 5 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.
Having won the first leg in Chennai, it was RCB’s first league double over CSK in the history of the tournament.
Half-centuries from Jacob Bethell (55, 33 balls, 8×4, 2×6), Virat Kohli (62, 33 ballsm 5×4, 5×6) and Romario Shepherd (53 not out off 14 balls, 4×4, 6×6) took RCB to a a healthy score 213 for five after CSK won the toss and opted to bowl.
Ayush Mhatre’s 48-ball 94 with five sixes and nine fours and Ravindra Jadeja’s 77 not out off 45 balls, including eight boundaries and two sixes kept CSK in the run chase.
Dhoni came into bat in the 17th over and scored 12 off 8 balls with a six but dismissed in the third ball of the last over, as missed a low full toss that slanted towards he leg stump and was wrapped on the pads, only to be adjudged leg before wicket.
CSK need 15 off the last six balls and four off the last ball but could only score a single for their ninth loss in 11 matches as they stayed rooted at the bottom of the standings.
Speaking after the match, Dhoni felt he should have scored more to ease the pressure on his batting partners and took responsibility for his failure.
“When I went into bat, with the kind of deliveries and the runs needed, I felt I should’ve converted a couple more shots to ease the pressure. I take the blame. They got off to a good start, in between we pulled it back, but Romario Shepherd was brilliant.
“Whatever the bowlers bowled, he was able to get maximum runs. We need to practice more yorkers. More often than not, when the batters start to connect, you have to rely on yorkers. Also the margin of error (yorkers provide) – so if you’re looking for a perfect yorker, if that doesn’t happen, a low full toss is the next best thing. It’s one of the most difficult balls to hit.
“Somebody like Pathirana, if the yorker isn’t happening, he has got pace. He can bowl the bouncer and keep the batter guessing. At times if he’s looking for yorkers, batters are looking to line it up and if he misses, batters have a chance of hitting. It can be used, but not all batters are comfortable playing it (the scoop). If it comes naturally, then definitely. If not, it becomes difficult.
“It is something you need to practice in the new era. Most of our batters don’t play the paddle shot. Jaddu (Jadeja) plays it but he’s more comfortable down the ground so he was backing his strength,” he added.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Chennai Super Kings by two runs in a thrillinf IPL 2025 match on Saturday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
