Dhoni: ‘It’s fair enough, this season we weren’t there’

Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted on Monday that Chennai Super Kings have not lived up to their billing this Indian Premier League season after the three-time winners were outclassed by Rajasthan Royals, AFP reported.

Chennai skipper Dhoni’s 200th match in the Twenty20 tournament turned out to be a damp squib as his team lost by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi to slip to the bottom of the eight-team table.

Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 70 and disciplined bowling helped the Steve Smith-led Royals dominate the game after being put into field first.

“It’s fair enough, this season we weren’t there,” a disappointed Dhoni said after Chennai’s seventh loss from 10 matches.

Jofra Archer led Royals’ bowling with figures of 1-20 to restrict Chennai to 125 for five, a total Royals surpassed with 2.3 overs to spare and move to fifth spot in 10 matches.