CSK vs KKR IPL 2023: MS Dhoni cites dew factor after CSK’s defeat; Nitish Rana thanks KKR coach Chandrakant Pandit for his idea | Cricket News – Times of India

Chennai Super Kings didn’t have a perfect evening in what could be skipper MS Dhoni’s last outing as a player on the team’s home ground, the MA Chidambaram Stadium, as the four-time champions lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL game on Sunday.
Defending a below-par 144/6, Dhoni said dew on the field proved to be a decisive factor in his side’s six-wicket defeat.
Chennai had a chance to seal their place in the playoffs at home as Deepak Chahar took three wickets to rock KKR’s batting, but Nitish Rana (57 not out) and Rinku Singh (54) had other ideas.

The Kolkata duo stitched a 99-run partnership off 76 balls for the fourth wicket, which is now the highest fourth-wicket stand against CSK at Chepauk, to take KKR home.
“The minute we bowled the first ball in the second innings, we knew we needed 180. But there was no way we could have got 180 on that pitch. The dew made a big difference in the second innings. We can’t really blame any of our bowlers,” said Dhoni after the match.
“Just that the conditions had a big impact on the game. Very happy with what Shivam (Dube, 48 not out) has done, but important that he is not satisfied and keeps improving. (Deepak) Chahar swings the ball; he knows what fields to take and he bowls accordingly,” the CSK skipper added.

Rana thanked coach Chandrakant Pandit for insisting on the heavy roller while the KKR skipper was not in favour of it.
“Said at the toss that if all 3 departments do well, our chances are good. Have to give credit to Chandu sir (Chandrakant Pandit) for this; I wasn’t in favour of taking the heavy roller but he insisted to go for it. I feared the pitch might break up, but that didn’t happen and the ball didn’t turn much,” added Rana.

Rinku, who got the ‘Player of the Match’ award for being the aggressor to dominate Chennai’s spinners, said the plan was to make the most out of bad deliveries.
“Lost some wickets early. When I went in, Nitish bhaiya said it’s a tough wicket, we’ll knock it around for singles and capitalise on loose balls. I bat in the same position in domestic cricket and play the same way,” said Rinku.
The win kept KKR’s slim playoff hopes alive, while CSK remain No. 2 on the points table despite the defeat.

(With agency inputs)