A bit more partnerships, a bit more runs, a bit more application, and we'll be on track: MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni cut a dejected figure after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) suffered a humiliating eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday, April 11. The legendary wicketkeeper-batter rued the lack of application from the CSK batters as they were restricted to just 103/9, their lowest score at Chepauk. This was after Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to field first on a track which had a fair amount of assistance for the bowlers.

Knight Riders needed just 10.1 overs to secure victory. They lost the wickets of Quinton de Kock (23) and Sunil Narine (44) along the way as Rinku Singh (15*) and Rahane (20*) steered them home. CSK lost five matches consecutively in a season for the first time.

"I think it's quite a few nights haven't gone our way. What's important is to look deep down inside. I feel the challenge was there. But it's important to accept that challenge, figure out ways how you'll tackle the difficult deliveries, and then look to get runs on the board. Today, I felt we didn't really have enough runs on the board," Dhoni, who led CSK for the first time since the IPL 2023 final," Dhoni told the broadcaster after the loss.

The 43-year-old also noted that the balls were stopping on the batters from the first innings itself. However, he said that losing wickets in clusters didn't help CSK's cause, especially with high-class spinners in the KKR lineup. Dhoni feels that more partnerships and better application will bring his team back on track.

"Yes, it did [stop] but it has been the case over here. Whenever we bowled first, even in the second innings, it stopped a bit. But today in the first innings also it was stopping. But also, if you lose too many wickets, it looks very different because it puts pressure on the batsman who is going in, and with quality spinners it becomes slightly difficult. And we never really got any kind of partnerships going. So that also makes it tough. I feel overall a bit more partnerships, a bit more runs, a bit more application, and we'll be on track," Dhoni said.

Our openers need to back themselves: MS Dhoni

CSK managed just 31 runs in their first six overs and lost two wickets. Dhoni said that both the openers - Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra are capable enough, and they just need to back themselves to score runs in their own style without worrying about the score on the board. The CSK skipper opined that CSK's strength lies in keeping wickets intact upfront and accelerating through the middle overs to set up a platform for an onslaught at the death.

"What is important is our openers are good openers, and they just need to back themselves and play authentic cricket shots. They're not the ones who will start slogging or look to hit across the line. But what is also important is not to get desperate seeing the scoreboard. You need, maybe one or two boundaries and run rate keeps on going. If you start looking for 60 in six overs with our line-up, it will be very difficult for us. It's important to get partnerships going, maybe look to capitalise in the middle and the later overs. That's what our strength will be. But if we lose too many wickets, the middle order needs do their role differently and the slog has been delayed for quite a while," Dhoni concluded.