IPL 2014: MS Dhoni slams irresponsible seniors after loss against Kings XI Punjab

MS Dhoni watches Virender Sehwag play a shot for six

After conceding over 200 runs to the Kings XI Punjab for the third time this season, not too many gave CSK a chance. But a target of 227 looked in their grasp after Suresh Raina’s 25-ball 87, and CSK were on their way to the highest successful chase in T20 history, but a middle-order collapse meant that CSK couldn’t make it to their sixth IPL final in seven years.

Captain MS Dhoni believed that his side were on the way to the final but some “irresponsible cricket by some of the most experienced international cricketers” cost CSK the game.

"I think definitely it was something we could have achieved, the reason being Suresh [and] the way he batted," Dhoni said, "I think in the middle overs there was some very irresponsible cricket by some of the most experienced international cricketers, so I think definitely we need to have a look, in a game like this when the stakes are high, you can't really commit mistakes."

Raina's innings meant that the equation was down to an achievable 127 from 83 balls, but four wickets for 33 runs between the 12th and 17th overs meant that CSK faltered on their way to the final. Dhoni was also critical of his bowlers, especially his spinners who combined for 92 runs for just one wicket in their eight overs.

Dhoni added: "Apart from that bowling department also, we need our spinners to improve a bit. Especially on good flat wickets that has been a concern for us, and again it proved in this game also. They way they started, definitely because I had belief in my bowling that they will definitely let them score over 200 runs. But overall they batted really well."

Dhoni also said that that the loss of Dwayne Bravo was crucial and to have come this far was in itself “a big achievement”.

"One of our retained players, we lost him right at the start. And to come to the knockout stages without him, that itself is a big achievement. If Bravo was playing in a game like this, we'll have one more spinner or a fast bowler and that really gives us good support. Six bowlers is something you can maneuver more with, but what's done is done. Bravo got injured but still we did really well in this tournament.”

Dhoni also said that there was nothing his bowlers could do, to stop Sehwag, when he is in that kind of form.

"I think Viru pa, once he gets going hardly any bowler can stop him, and in our bowling attack also there is hardly any quick bowler who can push him onto the back foot," Dhoni said. "I think he batted really well, took the challenge to the spinners, dominated the spinners, never really let us get back into the game, they scored 25 runs more. The way Suresh batted, it was within our reach.”