Did Dhoni's captaincy error cost CSK the game?

The tactics backfired as four overs of spin the powerplay allowed Royals to get off to a flier with Buttler going hammer and tongs. Royals were 57 for 2 after six, chasing 177 to win.

Dhoni may have surprised many with his rejuvenated batting performance in this season, but he has left a hole in his captaincy.

But what Dhoni did not explain was the reason behind giving Willey the 19th over and not Bravo.

“We had to bowl one particular length and the bowlers were instructed on what they need to bowl and where they need to bowl. That back of the length was a difficult one to hit. We at least got hit 4-5 boundaries off full length,” Dhoni said further.

Generally, a captain throws the penultimate over to his best death bowler, so that he can ease the pressure on the bowler bowling the last one.

This is not the first time Dhoni committed this mistake in the IPL. Against Mumbai Indians too, Dhoni surprisingly threw the ball to Shardul Thakur in the 19th over with only 22 required.

Thakur could not deliver and Imran Tahir could not defend in the last over. Bravo was left unutilized.

On Friday, Dhoni, who generally uses his medium pacers in the first six, used his spinners more against the English opening pair of Buttler and Stokes.

MS Dhoni came down hard on his bowlers for not sticking to the plans and erring on lengths on multiple occasions.

“That was a par score or a par plus score. I think the bowlers let us down to some extent,

The England left-armer missed his length twice and on both occasions, Krishnappa Gowtham deposited him deep into the stands.

David Willey playing only his second match of IPL was thrown the ball when Rajasthan Royals needed 18 runs off the last 2 overs.

16 runs came off the Willey over, which meant Bravo only had 12 runs to defend in the last over. Buttler held his nerve and won the match for Royals, with a ball to spare.