Wicket needs to get much better: Dhoni on Chepauk pitch

While chasing the target CSK also found it hard to score quickly as they required 17 overs to complete the run chase.

Chennai: Though CSK started their IPL 2019 campaign on a high note captain MS Dhoni was not happy with the state of the MA Chidambaram Stadium pitch.

“I never expected the wicket to play how it played. I think something close to 140 you are looking at. I think the wicket needs to get much better,” said the former Indian captain.

CSK defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by seven wickets to kick off their title defence. Batting first RCB were bamboozled for 70, IPL's lowest team total.

The pitch was spinners' paradise as Harbhajan Singh and Imran Tahir picked up three wickets each while Ravindra Jadeja took two to decimate the visitors for a paltry total.

On the Chepauk rank-turner, spinners enjoyed 7.2-degree turn against RCB which was much more than its usual 2.7-degree turn for spinners.

While chasing the target CSK also found it hard to score quickly as they required 17 overs to complete the run chase.

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“Well, we have communicated to the players in what scenarios they will be needed. He [Harbhajan] has the kind of experience needed to bowl on this wicket. I don’t think he would have minded bowling first or second here," Dhoni added.

It was Harbhajan Singh who went through the RCB top order that helped CSK to turn the match in their favour from the very beginning of the proceeding. Harbhajan finished the match with a figure of 3 for 20 in four overs. His victims were Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Moeen Ali.