Dhoni's knock took the game away from us: Vinay Kumar

Royal Challengers Bangalore's medium pacer R Vinay Kumar has said that it was Mahendra Singh Dhoni's knock that took the game away from the visitors, paving the way for Chennai Super Kings' win in the Indian Premier League.

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"Even though we bowled well, Dhoni's innings took the game away from us. Especially those two sixes he hit and the boundaries took the game away from us," Vinay said.

Chasing a stiff target of 166, Chennai Super Kings required 100 off 57 balls when Dhoni arrived at the crease.

The CSK skipper smashed two huge sixes and a boundary in his 23-ball 33-run cameo.

Kumar defended giving R P Singh the final over, saying the Uttar Pradesh pacer had bowled well at the death in the last two matches.

"Ultimately it is the captain's choice. Whatever he feels is right at that moment and will help us, he does that. R P (Singh) also bowled really well in the last overs in the last two games. That is what the captain had in his mind and gave it (last over) to him.

"Unfortunately, today also he bowled well but you can't do much about the last ball, which was a no-ball," Kumar said.

Requiring two of the final delivery, R P Singh bowled a huge no-ball to hand CSK a four-wicket win.

Kumar had successfully defended 10 and seven runs off the last over against Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively in the earlier matches.

"In T20 format anything is possible. The first two balls were very crucial and it went for ten runs. From there R P pulled the game really well but in the last ball he overstepped and it is our bad luck," Kumar said.

"Death bowling is very difficult actually. When you are up against big hitters like Cameron White and MS Dhoni, it is like six times out of ten it will go the other way," he added.

Photograph: BCCI