Dhoni blames his bowlers for defeat against Pune

Chennai: In the biggest upset of IPL Season 6, underdogs Pune Warriors India defeated heavyweights Chennai Super Kings by 24 runs in their own backyard at Chepauk on Monday. Once again blaming his bowlers for the defeat, Chennai skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that the bowlers gave too many runs in the initial and death overs.

"We gave few too many in the first few overs and death has always been a worry for us. We have not been able to capitalise on first six overs with the bat as well. These are crucial things to do on pitches like these where it slows down after seven-eight overs. Yorker is a perfect recipe, if you can bowl three or four it is very difficult to hit. It is good that we got a game like this early in the tournament and not later," said Dhoni.

Meanwhile ecstatic about the win, Pune stand-in skipper Taylor was in all praise for Aaron Finch, Steven Smith and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. "Finch set the tone for us. He batted brilliantly at the top. Smith came in and finished it off. 160 was going to be competitive. Later Bhuvneshwar Kumar led the attack and we fielded well too," said Taylor.

Steven Smith, who got the Man-of-the-Match award, said, "I am happy that I made the best of opportunity that came in my way. This was my first match of IPL 6 and I was fresh and ready to go. I got my chance tonight with Angelo sitting out for this match,” said Smith, adding that the reverse sweep which fetch him a six, was something which comes off his at times.

“Don’t know what I was thinking, comes off at times. We could have got another 10 if we hadn't lost a few wickets," added Smith.

By ISN

TOP PICKS