Long gap, 14-day quarantine doesn't help: Dhoni

SHARJAH: Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Tuesday that he decided to stay at number seven, as Chennai Super Kings fell short by 16 runs while chasing Rajsthan Royal's total of 216 runs, due to the long gap the 39-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman had before the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), and also to give Sam Curran more chance higher up the order.

Dhoni hit three consecutive sixes in the last over but it was not enough as CSK fell 16 runs behind in a high scoring fixture at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

"I haven't batted for a long time. Fourteen-day quarantine doesn't help," said Dhoni at the post-match presentation ceremony.

"Also, we wanted to try different things, give opportunities to Sam (Curran). We have the opportunity to try different things. If they don't work, you can always go back to your strengths," the CSK skipper said. Dhoni said that CSK did not get a good start considering the size of the target. He also felt that his bowling unit could have done better to restrict the opposition. (IANS)

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