MS Dhoni playing

Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL

Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni on Thursday said in the post match presentation that the team’s qualification into the playoffs this year means a lot as it had a poor run in the previous season. CSK on Thursday defeated the Sunrisers Hyderabad by 6 wickets to book a play-off berth for the 11th time in IPL history.

Chennai had a disappointing season last year when they finished 7th with 12 points and failed qualification for the first time whenever they have played in IPL. But the Dhoni-led CSK, which is known for their comebacks, scripted an amazing comeback once after last season's disappointment. CSK have become the first team to confirm a spot in the playoffs this season.

We said we wanted to comeback strong, lot was on stake: Dhoni

After the match, CSK skipper MS Dhoni threw light on the team’s performance in the match and in the tournament so far. Dhoni said that the qualification means a lot as they wanted to comeback strong. “It means a lot, because the last time, we said we wanted to come back strong. We are known for that and there was a lot at stake. You won't always win games and a lot didn't go our way last time, and it's important not to make excuses and we have done that this year,” Dhoni said in the Post-match Presentation.

Coming into the UAE leg of IPL 2021, CSK had some momentum but it was more important to carry it forward and Dhoni credited his players for doing it perfectly. “The boys did well to keep the momentum going, and they've taken responsibilities to keep all departments of the game in balance so the players and the support staff get the credit,” Dhoni added.

Dhoni throws light on how CSK restricted SRH

The pitch was a bit tricky to bat on and there was some help for the bowlers from the surface. The CSK skipper talked about the pitch and how his bowlers adjusted to bowl in the right length to restrict SRH at 134/7. “The bounce of the wicket was different - instead of knee height, it was shin height, and once the batsmen figured out that they have to hit straight, they succeeded. The bowlers tried to swing it up front and got hit straight when they pitched it up too much, but then adjusted very well. I told the bowlers that they needed to exploit the conditions in today's game. If the odd ball stopped early on, it started coming onto the bat later,” Dhoni said.

Dhoni credited his franchise’s ever supporting fans and said the team is proud of the fans that they have got. “Well, to the fans.. they have been great right from the start. We don’t need to utter a lot when it comes to good performance or bad performance, you know the fans have taken care of it and I can proudly say on behalf od CSK that we are proud of the fans that we have got,” Dhoni said.