Unhappy with non-performing bowlers, Dhoni hints changes

Clearly unhappy with the lacklustre show of his non-performing bowlers, Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today said time is ripe to bring in some changes in the squad.
Today's six-wicket defeat against Deccan Chargers left the last year's finalists in an unenviable position with just one win from their five outings and Dhoni pointed his accusing finger at the bowlers for the team's string of poor shows in the second edition of the Indian Premier League.

"I think the bowlers are letting us down," a dejected Dhoni said after the match.

"We really need to come up with some ideas, maybe a few other combinations and test our bench strength," Dhoni said.

With Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs going great gun, Chennai bowlers had a forgettable outing today.

Lakshmipathy Balaji conceded 41 runs in 3.3 overs for his one wicket while Manpreet Gony gave away 20 runs in his only over, prompting Dhoni not to press him into service again.

Among others, Joginder Sharma bled 14 runs in his only over, while Albie Morkel conceded 29 in his three wicket-less over.

Dhoni didn't spare the batsmen either and felt Chennai batters struggled in the middle overs.

"We are getting good start but have been struggling in the middle overs. Middle order is not clicking, we need to work on that as well," said Dhoni.

Incidentally, Dhoni himself has not been in great form in the tournament so far. His counterpart Adam Gilchrist, meanwhile, had no such worry and credited his bowlers for restricting Chennai to 165.

"Chennai got off to a good start and I think we did well to pull them back. They looked like getting 180-190 but our bowlers just hung in.

"RP Singh did cop some runs but he bowled an important last over and I think we did well," he said.

Gilchrist, however, admitted that he erred in not allowing Pragyan Ojha complete his full quota of four overs.

"I think I made a mistake there. Ojha bowled two overs and took two important wickets (of Matthew Hayden and Dhoni) for just 11 runs. Maybe my mind got it wrong. He (Ojha) has done a great job in the tournament so far," he said.

Gibbs, who was adjudged man-of-the-match for his unbeaten half-century, thanked his captain and said Gilchrist's presence at the other end took pressure off his shoulder.

"In Twenty20, we are not expected to get our eyes in. But with Gilly going after it right from the first ball, there was no pressure and I could relax," Gibbs said.

"We tried to made the maximum use of the first six overs. With Gilly going so well, I didn't have much to do," he said.