RR batsman Ben Stokes reacts after losing wicket. (Source: PTI)Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Ben Stokes said after their loss to Chennai Super Kings on Sunday that it would be difficult to make a comeback after five possible losses. RR saw their third defeat in three games at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
After losing to MS Dhoni’s CSK by eight runs, Stokes said at the press-conference, “Our first three games we got ourselves into a real good position to win. All three, and we know it is just (about) winning those crucial moments. It was the last over and unfortunately we couldn’t cross the line.”
“There is always been one point in the three games were we haven’t been a better team. Losing the first three games you probably would say we can’t (take positives), but we are trying to and there is no point in looking back…Because if we lose 4-5, it’s going to be really tough to come back from that,” he said.
Praising Dhoni, who struck an unbeaten 75 to bail his team out of trouble from 27/3, Stokes said, “Hindsight is a wonderful thing, if you look back at it like that. He just takes it deep as he possibly can. He’s a great person to learn from and watch how he goes about his innings whether it’s setting a total or chasing a total.”
“Sometimes you got to hold your hand up and say the best players in the world can do that. He certainly showed that tonight. Especially when he comes in early, every team knows what he’s going to try and do to start with and we tried to attack him. Getting him out was our main objective. There was a dropped catch which you can’t blame anyone for – that happens – and the ball hitting the stumps and the bails not coming off.”
Dwayne Bravo ensured that CSK continued their winning run with last over heroics. “And probably though the first ball is crucial to get a boundary (in the last over), and to try and get the momentum, you know (it) could have gone (for a boundary) but (Dwanye) Bravo is sort of experienced in those situations and he knows what to do and he is one of the best in the world doing it, so just say well bowled at the end of the day,” said Stokes.
“(There was) little bit pace and (it was) stoppy, towards the end the quicker ball couldn’t not lay easier and in the end the dew helped (the ball) to come on nicely. The dew on the top of the grass was making the ball slippery and you could see how many times the ball was changed and it was a tough task for us, imagine how hard it was for the spinners considering they used their fingers to spin the ball,” he added.
