Rajasthan Royals kept their playoff hopes alive with the bat as they chased down 190 in 17.3 overs against Chennai Super Kings on Saturday night. CSK captain MS Dhoni lamented losing the toss and said batting first on a run-filled pitch in Abu Dhabi made the difference.
RR captain Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to field first and CSK posted a mammoth total of 189/4 in 20 overs with opener Ruturaj Gaikwad’s maiden century. However, Yashvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube made fun of the target as they put on blazing half-centuries to seal a seven-wicket win.
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“It was bad to lose in the beginning but I think the Royals batsmen batted really well. They snatched the game in the first 6 overs itself. 250 would have been close to par,” Dhoni quipped during a post-match conversation with the host broadcaster.
He also explained why CSK, unlike RR, opted to accelerate in the death overs of their innings. “It was stalling a bit when their wrist spinners were bowling, and it started getting better later, that’s when Ruturaj capitalized really well. Often when you lose a game it comes down to the carpet but it was a great innings.”
Dhoni said that the on-field conditions could have been better but said that the team will have to recover from this defeat quickly. “We could have made better use of dimensions in terms of setting up the field as well. It is important to forget but also to learn from this game, because if it happens in a playoff match then there is no point in learning.”
CSK. Those who are still on the top of the points table, they next face Delhi Capitals who are in second place and both the teams are now separated only by net run-rate.
Both CSK and DC have already made it to the playoffs.
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