'Going back to Khaleel was risky at the back end' - Adam Gilchrist questions MS Dhoni's fateful decision against RCB

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faced a heartbreaking loss against rivals Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium by two runs on Saturday night. The fans and experts alike went on to question CSK skipper and legend MS Dhoni for the decisions he made during the game.

One of the experts who has heavily criticised Dhoni for his tactical decision is former Australian skipper Adam Gilchrist who mentioned that a huge blunder was made by the 43-year-old in giving the 19th over to Khaleel Ahmed who was smacked for 33 runs by West Indies and RCB all-rounder Romario Shepherd. This turned out to be the game-changing over since that propelled the Bengaluru franchise to a 200+ total, which was looking highly unlikely at one stage after the CSK spinners and Matheesha Pathirana ensured a fightback in the middle overs.

“Tactically, I don't know if a huge difference could have been made. Given going back to Khaleel was risky at the back end because he had gone for somewhat 32 runs in the first two overs. Maybe he could have gone to Kambhoj. Given where Noor finished, Jadeja with an extra over of spin is what he could have gone with. It's such a mixed bag. They also bowled 45 dot balls," Adam Gilchrist said to Cricbuzz.

“MS...he is never animated or shows any visible signs that he is upset. I just wonder if the energy is still being generated for him internally. Whether the brain is still ticking for him as astutely as it always has, as he edges closer and closer to the end. Be it this year or next year, whatever it is. I don't want to critique his leadership harshly because I feel he has been let down by some bad bowling," the three-time World Cup winner said.

He never used to miss those, used to just pick them up: Adam Gilchrist

Apart from the leadership, Gilchrist also criticised Dhoni’s batting bringing up his dismissal where he failed to get under a low full toss bowled by Yash Dayal in the last over. According to the Australian legend, those have normally been easy pickings for the former India skipper.

“Even MS, just a sign of where he is at. Just to miss that one...effectively it was a full toss. He never used to miss those, used to just pick them up," Gilchrist said.