Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday attributed his team’s remarkable turnaround this IPL season to the players’ hard work and understanding their roles and responsibilities.
Three-time winners CSK endured their worst outing last season when they finished seventh in the eight-team league, a far cry from the manner in which they are dominating in this edition, including their latest six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“Our players have worked hard, they have understood their roles and responsibilities. Over here, the three grounds are different. This is slowest (so far) of all. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are different. So the players have been adapting,” Dhoni said after the comfortable six-wicket win over RCB.
RCB skipper Virat Kohli (53) and young Devdutt Padikkal (70) struck brisk half-centuries in an impressive 111-run stand but CSK pulled the strings to restrict them to 156 for six after electing to bowl.
The in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad, then, came good again with a quick 38 while Faf du Plessis made 31 at the top to lay a strong foundation for CSK to chase the modest target in 18.1 overs.
CSK’s decision to bowl first was prompted by the dew factor.
“We were worried about the dew, so whenever there’s chances of dew we want to bat second.
“They got off to a good start but after ninth over wicket slowed down. You still had to bowl tight, and Jadeja’s spell was important with Padikkal batting from one end.
“After that Bravo, Josh (Hazlewood), Shardul (Thakur), Deepak (Chahar) were brilliant. It’s always on the back of your mind on which bowler can be effective over here,” the former India skipper said. Even as RCB got off to a great start, Dhoni brought into play his years of experience to effect a turnaround.