MS Dhoni was the only Chennai Super Kings player able to hold his head up high as their outside chance of reaching the Indian Premier League play-offs ended with a five-wicket loss to bottom side Mumbai Indians.
Dhoni took over as CSK captain once again after Ravindra Jadeja – who is sidelined with a rib injury – stepped down following just over a month in the role.
Dhoni led by example with an unbeaten 36 on Thursday, but the defending champions were skittled out for only 97 from 16 overs, with no other batter making more than 12.
Daniel Sams spearheaded the Indians’ bowling attack with 3-16 from his four overs – two of those wickets coming in the first over.
Ishan Kishan fell cheaply as Mumbai’s chase started poorly, with Mukesh Choudhary (3-23) drawing an edge and Dhoni taking the catch.
Dhoni caught his counterpart Rohit Sharma (18) from a Simarjeet Singh delivery in the fourth over, before Sams fell to Choudhary, who then sent Tristan Stubbs packing for a duck.
Yet Hrithik Shokeen and Tilak Varma steadied the ship, and although the former was bowled out by Moeen Ali, Varma’s 34 not out set Mumbai well on their way, with two sixes from Tim David (16 not out) ensured the Indians got home with 31 balls to spare.
Super Kings unable to make a case for the defence
CSK had four wins from their last seven matches in the IPL prior to Thursday’s meeting. However, this is the first season in which CSK have failed to register consecutive wins so far and that run rolled on as they were convincingly beaten.
With only two games to play, the defending champions have no chance of finishing in the top four.
Indians bring up 20 against CSK
Mumbai have now won 20 of their 34 IPL meetings with CSK. Indeed, the Super Kings have lost more times against the Indians than they have any other team in the competition. This was only a third win of the tournament for Mumbai. (SportsMax)
