Chennai Super Kings have started their title defence with a crushing defeat and its skipper MS Dhoni isn't happy with his team's rusty start to the season.
Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday suffered an eight-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) season five opener and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted that it was a "rusty" start to their title defence.
Chasing 113 to win, Mumbai Indians scored 115-2 with 19 balls to spare and Dhoni said that another 30-odd runs could have made a difference on the pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
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MI skipper Harbhajan Singh (centre) is ecstatic after dismissing CSK captain MS Dhoni. Pic/AFPu00a0
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"It is not a typical Chennai wicket. We started well but we didn't do well in the death overs, so it was a rusty start for the tournament. We did well, though, with the bowling," Dhoni said. Continue reading below
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Asked what could have been a winning score, Dhoni said: "It is difficult to judge seeing how they chased. If we would have scored 150-160 their approach would have been different, but seeing if you ask me, maybe 140-145-odd runs would have been difficult. I felt it was better to bat when we batted and there was something for the fast bowlers as well later on, but Richard Levi batted very well."
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His Mumbai counterpart, Harbhajan Singh, said that it was a good toss to win as the wicket was very unpredictable. "It was a good toss to win, the wicket was quite unpredictable, not the same wicket that we were used to play earlier. All the boys played well and Levi was terrific," Harbhajan said.
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Asked about their brilliant work on the field, Harbhajan said: "Fielding is a very important part of T20 cricket, one catch, one run-out can make a difference. Like we got Dhoni out, if he would have stayed then another 30-40 runs would have been difficult on this wicket."
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Sachin Tendulkar sustained a finger injury in his left hand and retired hurt when he tried to fend off a rising delivery from the Chennai's bowler Doug Bollinger and Harbhajan said that he was hoping it was nothing major.
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"At the moment he is fine. His finger is little bit bruised. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he will be fine and ready for the next game," he added.
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