Dhoni credits bowlers for easy win over DC in Qualifier 2

VISAKHAPTANAM: Defending champions Chennai Super Kings Friday entered their 8th IPL final and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni credited the clinical effort of his bowing unit for putting in the platform for the cozy win over Delhi Capitals in the Qualifier 2 right here.

Opting to bowl, CSK first restricted DC to 147 for 9 after which chased down the target with six wickets in hand to set up a conflict towards Mumbai Indians in the IPL final in Hyderabad on Sunday.

ALSO READ: CSK beat DC to set up fourth IPL final towards MI

"The crucial part was to keep getting wickets. The credit needs to go to the bowlers. The captain only asks this is what I need. Then it's up to them to figure out how to bowl, and they have to put in the hard yards," Dhoni mentioned at the post-match presentation rite.

"Thanks to the bowling department for where we are this season. I would have preferred it if the openers finished it off. Once they got the required rate below 6 an over, there was no reason to play big shots and get out. They did the hard yards," he added.

Dhoni additionally lauded the entire CSK staff for generating a clinical performance when it mattered.

"It's the usual route, last year was the exception. The kind of response from the boys today was brilliant. The way we batted to get 140-plus runs was very nice," he mentioned.

"The spinners got some turn, and we kept getting wickets at the right time."

DC captain Shreyas Iyer, on the contrary, blamed his batting department for the loss.

"We had a disappointing start, losing two wickets in the powerplay, and it was hard to recover from that. They have amazing spinners. But we've had a great season," he mentioned.

"None of the batsmen took the initiative to take the team through and there wasn't a partnership buidling. Disappointing for us but a good learning."

Iyer, despite the fact that, was once about the pitch on be offering this season at their house turf at the Feroze Shah Kotla Stadium.

"It's something to think about (the Delhi pitch). We didn't win too many home games, but we can't complain about pitches. We've been practising a lot on slow wickets. As professionals we can't give excuses," he mentioned.

"I think we've learned a lot, looking at seniors like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma leading their teams. It's a proud moment for me, standing with them at the toss. They talk to me, share their experiences, and that's great for me."

Shedding more gentle on his revel in of main the staff, Iyer mentioned: "I have heard Rohit and many of them speak about how tricky it is to be captain, and yeah, it's not a very simple process to do, but I am happy to be the captain.

"Really happy with the men. Loving the way we have gelled as a circle of relatives. The coaches and make stronger team of workers were superb. Much more to return next season. We've discovered the base, now could be the time to grow," he mentioned.

Man-of-the-match Faf du Plessis, who hit a 39-ball 50 right through the chase, mentioned CSK's revel in of profitable giant games did the trick despite the fact that they did not have an excellent outing in the remaining phase of the tournament this season.

"We didn't have the most productive run in the remaining 5 or 6 games, but we do have numerous self belief as a staff that's won numerous giant games. We drew numerous power from that," he mentioned.

"Our power is to get partnerships going and extend that, despite the fact that we take our time to start with. We've were given numerous just right batsmen down the order, and we back them to meet up with the desired charge."