QUARANTINE DIDN’T HELP, SAYS DHONI

Sharjah, Sept. 23: The extended two-week quarantine of Chennai Super Kings hampered his preparations as he did not get enough time for batting practice, said captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni after his side lost to Rajasthan Royals by 16 runs in their second IPL game.

Dhoni came in to bat at No.7, sending Sam Curran and Kedar Jadhav ahead of him in a mammoth 217-run chase on Tuesday.

Asked why he came so low in the order, the CSK captain said, “I haven’t batted for a long time. 14day quarantine doesn’t help.”

Dhoni was not out on 29 off 17 balls with three sixes in the last over.

“With 217 on the board, we needed a very good start which was not the case. Smith and Sanju batted very well. We need to give credit to their bowlers. Once you’ve seen the first innings, you knew the lengths to bowl,” Dhoni said. —