NEW DELHI: Renowned as one of the astute thinkers of the game, Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni kept his cool throughout his team's close eight-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in their IPL match in Bengaluru on Monday.
Dhoni revealed after the match that he keeps assessing the situation from behind the wicket and is involved in what needs to be done rather than thinking about the result, which helped him control the game despite Glenn Maxwell and Faf Du Plessis going all guns blazing.
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Devon Conway slammed 83 off 45 deliveries while Shivam Dube blazed away to a 27-ball 52 as CSK posted an imposing 226/6 after being asked to bat first. In reply, RCB skipper Faf du Plessis (62) and Glenn Maxwell (76) gave a scare to CSK till they were at the crease, sharing 126 runs for the third wicket to raise hopes of a famous win.
However, CSK bowlers held their nerves to win the match.
"When you come to Bangalore, you know it's a good wicket. Early part of the IPL you get a lot of dew. You want to start well and then alter whatever is there in your mind. It was slightly tacky to start off. It's important to go through that and then look to accelerate. We kept it simple and tried to get as much as possible in the second half of the game," said Dhoni after the game.
"Whenever you score 220, the batsmen need to keep on hitting. If Faf and Maxi had continued, they would have won it by the 18th over. I keep assessing from behind the wicket, I am always involved in what needs to be done rather than thinking about the result," he added.
Dhoni also praised Shivam Dube for his brisk innings, saying that the left-hander is a clean hitter against the spinners.
"He is someone who can hit very cleanly. He has an issue with the fast bowlers but he's a clean hitter against the spinners. We had certain plans for him but once he arrived for our camp, he was injured. So we couldn't do a lot of work," the CSK skipper said.
1/10:IPL 2023: CSK survive Du Plessis-Maxwell storm to beat RCB
IANS
2/10:Eight-run win
<p>Chennai Super Kings held on for an eight-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in a high-scoring IPL match on Monday. </p>IANS
3/10:33 sixes in the match
<p>RCB lost despite a blistering partnership from Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell in a match that saw a record-equalling 33 sixes hit in Bengaluru. </p>PTI
4/10:Commanding score
<p>Devon Conway and Shivam Dube blasted 83 and 52 respectively to help CSK post a commanding 226/6 batting first. </p>AFP
5/10:Conway carnage
<p>Conway set the tone for the match with his 45-ball knock, laced with six sixes, as he put on big partnerships with Ajinkya Rahane and then Dube. </p>AP
6/10:Ajinkya Rahane
<p>Rahane smashed 37 before being bowled by Wanindu Hasaranga but Conway kept up the charge with Dube for company in a partnership of 80 off 37 balls. </p>AFP
7/10:RCB hits back
<p>RCB attempted to pull things back with the wickets of Conway, who was named man of the match, and Dube, who departed after a 27-ball innings. </p>PTI
8/10:Moeen Ali
<p>But Moeen Ali steered CSK to the mammoth total with his unbeaten nine-ball 19. </p>IANS
9/10:RCB run chase
<p>RCB skipper Du Plessis (62) and Maxwell (76) brought the home crowd alive in a blazing partnership of 126. </p>IANS
10/10:Faf, Maxwell on the rampage
<p>Du Plessis and Maxwell tore into the CSK attack, striking 12 sixes between them after losing two early wickets including Virat Kohli in the first over. </p>TNNWe feel that he's somebody who can deliver and who can get those extra runs in the middle overs. He needs to believe in that more than us. We know he has the talent, but once you cross the boundary ropes into the field you are on your own," he added.
Dhoni added that death-bowling is a difficult task for the youngsters, especially with the dew around.
"It (death bowling) is a difficult one for the youngsters, especially at this time of the year with the dew around. But they are working hard. Bravo is one of the specialists. Under him, the bowlers will gain confidence. It's a team game. The coach, the bowling coach and the senior players guide them," said Dhoni.
(With agencies inputs)
