In the aftermath of Mumbai Indians' 20-run defeat to Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya openly praised the tactical prowess of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Despite Rohit Sharma's stellar performance with his second IPL century, Mumbai fell short in their chase of 206 runs. Pandya attributed CSK's victory not just to Dhoni's power-hitting but also to his astute reading of the game from behind the stumps, which proved crucial on a pitch favoring batsmen.
Pandya remarked on CSK's strategic acumen, particularly their utilization of the longer boundary, indicating that having Dhoni's guidance from behind the stumps provided them with a significant advantage. Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK's captain for the season, echoed Pandya's sentiments, highlighting Dhoni's power-hitting in the final overs as the decisive factor in the match's outcome.
Gaikwad emphasized the importance of scoring additional runs on a ground like Wankhede and credited Dhoni's late onslaught for providing CSK with the edge they needed. Despite acknowledging Mumbai's strong bowling performance, Gaikwad praised the execution of CSK's bowlers, singling out Matheesha Pathirana for his exceptional performance, reminiscent of the legendary Lasith Malinga.
Gaikwad clarified the decision to not open the innings himself, citing a minor injury concern and opting to send Ajinkya Rahane instead. Meanwhile, Player of the Match Pathirana expressed his nerves returning to the side after recovering from an injury. He credited the support from the team and staff for helping him regain his form, reflecting on his dedication to execution rather than focusing on results.
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