"Could have done a bit more..."- MS Dhoni slams batters for poor show vs GT in 5-wicket loss

 
"Could have done a bit more..."- MS Dhoni slams batters for poor show vs GT in 5-wicket loss

It could not have been a better start to the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League than the game between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans on Friday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The game went down to the wire, and the result came in the last over.

But it was the defending champion that kept their cool and registered their third straight win against the four-time champion. GT won the toss and put CSK to bat first. They got off to a good start with Ruturaj Gaikwad scoring a 24-ball half-century.

At one stage, CSK was looking to get to a big total of close to 200. But GT pulled back well and restricted Chennai to 178/7 in their first inning. Gaikwad made 92 off 50 balls, including nine maximums and four boundaries.

In reply, GT got a better start with Wriddhiman Saha (25 off 16), and Shubman Gill made a half-century. Gill made 63 off 36 balls, with three sixes and six fours. A few cameos from the other batters helped GT make 182/5 in 19.2 overs to win the game by five wickets.

CSK added only 57 runs in the last 43 balls, which cost them the game in the end. That's what CSK skipper MS Dhoni pointed out in the post-match presentation. He said that the batters could have done a bit better. MSD also lauded Gaikwad and Rajvardhan Hangargekar (3/36).

Dhoni said, "We all knew there will be dew. We could have done a bit more with the batsman-ship. Ruturaj (Gaikwad) was brilliant. I think Raj (Hangargekar) has pace and he will get better with time. I felt two left armers will be a better option so I went ahead with them."

CSK will now play their next game on Monday, April 2, against the Lucknow Super Giants. That will be an evening game, which will be played at CSK's home ground, MA Chidambaram Stadium.

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