The IPL is more or less over for the Super Kings. Though possibilities are been talked about, I have a feeling that the holders are done with this time.
Delhi and Kolkata seem set for the final go but the race for the remaining two playoff spots is between quite a few
teams.
Chennai seemed to lack the consistency they displayed in the last few years and the biggest reason has been that the Indian players have not clicked at one go. They were patchy, and Dhoni not coming to the party was a major drawback.
He lifts the team with his power-packed performance but this time he didn't hit the purple patch. He did come out at No 4 in Dharamsala against the Kings XI, when his colleagues were finding it difficult to break the shackles, but didn't come good. A few years back, Dhoni had single-handedly won the game here for Chennai when defeat seemed inevitable.
Also, Raina was not in his elements in a format he enjoys.
Amongst young India cricketers, Virat Kohli has also not been in his elements. He did play a good knock against Delhi the other night but Bangalore have players like Gayle, Dilshan, de Villiers to pull them through.
Kohli did the right thing by playing around Gayle, whose form will be important for his team to get the important two points in the last league game.
In the match against RCB, a few of the Delhi players were rested and it was a good move to try out a different combination before getting into the play-offs. One thing which needs to be mentioned is that teams, which are getting into the crucial final phase, have shown a tendency to depend on some players. This area needs to be addressed and I am sure the people responsible are keeping a watch.
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The writer is PWI captain