Chennai Super Kings (CSK) produced another lackluster performance on Monday as they suffered a 7-wicket defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals (RR). As MS Dhoni cited ‘lack of spark in youngsters’ as one of the reasons behind the team’s failures this season, former India captain Kris Srikkanth tore into the CSK skipper for his reasoning.
Seeing Dhoni put a part of the blame on the youngster’s inability to rise to the occasion, Srikkanth went on a rant, tearing into the 39-year-old for the team’s poor campaign.
“I won’t accept what Dhoni is saying. This talk of process, process… I won’t agree with that. You’re talking about process, but the process of selection itself is wrong,” he was quoted as saying by India Today.
One of Chennai’s biggest problems this season has been the inability of Indian players to absorb pressure. While Ambati Rayudu did win CSK the first game of the season against Mumbai Indians, the likes of Kedar Jadhav, Piyush Chawla, Ravindra Jadeja (with the ball), etc. couldn’t quite produce the level of performances that were expected from them.
Speaking of Dhoni’s ‘lack of spark comment’, Srikkanth added: “A guy like Jagadeesan… you’re saying youngsters don’t have spark, does Kedar Jadhav have spark? Did Piyush Chawla show spark? Come on, this is all ridiculous, I will not accept his answers today. By going on and on about the process, CSK’s tournament is going to end.
“By saying that they will give opportunities from now to youngsters… come on, Jagadeesan showed some spark,” he further said.
Dhoni decided to bring back spinner Chawla in the match against the Royals, leaving Karn Sharma on the bench again. Srikkanth also questioned the manner in which Chawla was used by Dhoni especially after the kind of start Chahar and Hazlewood gave the team by cleaning up the Rajasthan top-order.
“At least Karn Sharma was getting wickets even if he was expensive. Piyush Chawla was brought into the attack after the match was done and dusted. Dhoni is a great cricketer, there is no doubt about that but I won’t accept him saying that the ball didn’t grip. I won’t accept that,” Kris stressed.
Though the Super Kings have a mathematical chance of making it to the playoffs, their subdued performances so far this campaign have failed to give belief to even their most ardent supporters.
