Defeat vs SRH Breaks RPS Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Heart

The inability to win close matches has ruined IPL 2016 debutants Rising Pune Supergiants. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is upset that RPS finished on the wrong side of last-over finishes and that ruined a team that was among the favourites at the start of the tournament.

In Visakhapatnam on Tuesday night, Rising Pune Supergiants did everything right to restrict high-flying Sunrisers Hyderabad to 137/8 but then lost by four runs in a tantalizing final over. The defeat meant Pune were consigned to their eighth loss in 11 matches with no hope to qualify for the top four (playoffs).

For a man who is known for his 'chasing' skills, Dhoni was left heartbroken after he had done all the hard work to guide RPS to the brink of victory on Tuesday night.

Dhoni falls in dramatic chase

RPS needed 14 off the last over. Sunrisers summoned their most experienced pacer, Ashish Nehra to stop Dhoni (batting on 22 off 17 balls) and Thisara Perera (16 not out off 11 balls). It turned out to be a fascinating six balls.

After singles off the first two deliveries, Perera was out in 19.3. The Lankan holed out at extra-cover trying for a big one. Dhoni crossed over to take strike.

True to style, Dhoni muscled Nehra's fourth ball for a six at widish long-on. It was a yorker that went wrong and Dhoni smashed it only the way he can.

Six needed off two balls.

Dhoni is run out trying to steal a second. Barinder Sran and Yuvraj Singh plotted Dhoni's dramatic exit in 19.5. Sunrisers have got their man.

Dhoni's dismissal (30 off 20 balls) opened the door for SRH and Nehra gets new man Adam Zampa caught at the stumps for a first-ball duck. Sunrisers escape to victory and Dhoni is gutted.

RPS captain Dhoni is gutted

"Losing close games like this is a tough one to digest," Dhoni lamented in the post-match chat.

"There are a few things not working in our favour. The three games we have won comfortably, the ones we have lost have been in the last over," Dhoni rued.

RPS made a stunning start to the tournament, whipping defending champions Mumbai Indians by 10 wickets at the Wankhede Stadium.

But injuries to key players like Kevin Pietersen, Faf du Plessis and Steven Smith destroyed the fabric of the team. Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming simply found it tough to find a winning combination.

'Difficult to emulate Chennai Super Kings' success'

Fleming admitted it was difficult to emulate the success that Chennai Super Kings achieved under Dhoni's captaincy. Top players did not guarantee success in a format that hits reputation for a six.

RPS found a bowling hero in leg-spinner Adam Zampa. The young Aussie took 6 for 19 in his four overs to break the back of a strong SRH batting line-up.

Ironically, this was Zampa's second match in the IPL. He took 2 for 35 in his first game against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Dhoni admitted that team selection was an issue.

"Zampa was fantastic. We wanted him to feature in the initial XI, but the combination was tough. We probably played with the best XI in the first three matches. Zampa is a good find and he is somebody who can give us stability," said Dhoni.

There will be lessons to learn from this season. For Fleming and Dhoni, patience will be key as RPS pick up their pieces in their remaining games in IPL 2016.