FORMER INDIAN CRICKETER SLAMS MS DHONI FOR CSK ‘YOUNGSTERS’ COMMENT AFTER CSKVSRR CLASH 

After Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lost to Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 7 wickets on Monday, MS Dhoni’s team has now ended up at the bottom of the IPL 2020 points table. 

After winning the toss, Dhoni’s team batted first but could only manage a total of 125/5 while the Royals completed the 126-run chase with 7 wickets in hand and 15 balls remaining.

Meanwhile, during the post-match presentation ceremony, Dhoni said that youngsters were not given chances in the starting 10 matches of the side because they lacked spark in them. 

"It's fair enough [the criticism for not playing youngsters], this season we weren't there. Maybe we didn't see as much spark from some of our youngsters. Maybe going forward we bring them in and they play without pressure," MS Dhoni said at the post-match presentation.

After his comments went viral, former Indian cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth immediately reacted to the statement made by Dhoni and slammed him for it. 

"I won't accept what Dhoni is saying. This talk of process, process... I won't agree with that. You're talking about process, but the process of selection itself is wrong. "A guy like Jagadeesan... you're saying youngsters don't have spark, does Kedar Jadhav have spark? Did Piyush Chawla show spark? Come on, this is all ridiculous, I will not accept his answers today. By going on and on about the process, CSK's tournament is going to end,” the 1983 World Cup winner Srikkanth said.

"By saying that they will give opportunities from now to youngsters... come on, Jagadeesan showed some spark. At least Karn Sharma was getting wickets even if he was expensive. Piyush Chawla was brought into the attack after the match was done and dusted. Dhoni is a great cricketer, there is no doubt about that but I won't accept him saying that the ball didn't grip. I won't accept that," Kris Srikkanth added.

Further speaking about the ‘atrocious comments’ Srikkanth addressed it on his Youtube show ‘Cheeky Cheeka' stating “That was an atrocious comment. It is so demotivating for youngsters. Will any youngster want to play for CSK when a captain says stuff like this? How can he make that statement? How can he say that he is not able to find a 'spark' in youngsters? What did you see in Kedar Jadhav? I can't understand. Absolute rubbish. What spark is there in Piyush Chawla?". 

“He is talking about believing in process, it seems he is still figuring out that process and the tournament is nearing its end. if I were a young player who can hit a few balls and if I hear a captain say something like that in a post-match speech, I would be thinking that the team has no confidence in me. All the other teams are showing faith in youngsters. Be it Riyan Parag, Piryam Garg, be it M Ashwin and Ravi Bishnoi for Kings XI Punjab, T Natarajan is doing well,"  he added.

“You are making a mockery of everything. We are saying CSK, but no one is playing from Chennai. Look at Mumbai, Suryakumar Yadav (is doing well). How did Mumbai Indians identify Hardik Pandya? He came out of nowhere and took the attack to Pawan Negi against CSK. Today, he has gone on to become one of the leading all-rounders in the world," he went on to say. 

“They are giving opportunities to youngsters, some like Ishan Kishan is coming an performing. How can you make that statement? No captain can say such things. Jagadeesan got a 30-odd in the only match he played. Someone like Baba Aparajith went without playing a game. Local talent is most important,” Srikkanth made his statement loud and clear.

Finally giving out a message to the CSK captain, Srikkanth asserted that “Energy is missing. There is no spark in the fielding. Dhoni, firstly, you are missing the spark this season. it's not right to say youngsters were missing the spark,” Srikkanth said. 

“MS Dhoni himself said at a post-match speech that the team should either go after the bowling or get out while trying to do so. Why didn't he do what he said? Why is he not walking the talk? You need intent, you need a positive approach. Even when RR were 3 wickets down, CSK could have put pressure if they had picked one more wicket. It's a psychological game. But, Dhoni didn't put any pressure yesterday," he noted.

“The way we lost it was very very sad. Nothing else. There was no intent, frankly speaking. Okay, you lost 3 wickets, okay fine. then Dhoni should have tried to be aggressive. He was struggling to put bat to ball. Hit out or get out. Shreyas Gopal and Tewatia gave away just 28 runs between them. They bowled really well but they were not deadly,” Srikkanth added.