Comeback won’t be easy after losing 4-5 games: Stokes

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Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Ben Stokes has said that his team can't afford to lose another game after suffering three consecutive defeats in the IPL.

Stokes said there is no point in looking back and focus on the upcoming games because if they lose the next two, bouncing back could be beyond Royals' reach.

"Our first three games we got ourselves into a real good position to win All three, and we know it is just (about) winning those crucial moments. (This game) it was the last over and unfortunately we couldn't cross the line," Stokes said at the post-match press conference after the eight-run loss.

"There is always been one point in the three games where we haven't been a better team. Losing the first three games you probably would say we can't (take positives), but we are trying to and there is no point in looking back...Because if we lose 4-5, it's going to be really tough to come back from that," he said.

Stokes also hailed CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni saying there was a lot to learn from him. Dhoni smashed an unbeaten 75 to bail his team out of trouble from 27 for three.

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing, if you look back at it like that. He just takes it deep as he possibly can. He's a great person to learn from and watch how he goes about his innings whether it's setting a total or chasing a total.

"Sometimes you got to hold your hand up and say the best players in the world can do that. He certainly showed that tonight."

Paying tribute to Dhoni's finishing skills, the Englishman said he is one of the greatest finishers to have graced the game and the Royals tried to attack him but he got reprieves which could have been a turning point.

"Especially when he comes in early, every team knows what he's going to try and do to start with and we tried to attack him. Getting him out was our main objective. There was a dropped catch which you can't blame anyone for — that happens — and the ball hitting the stumps and the bails not coming off."

Daily Pioneer
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