'Tyagi is the only positive'

Bengaluru: Chennai Super Kings stand-in-captain Suresh Raina put up a brave face as he spoke to the media after yet another disappointing loss in DLF IPL 2010, this time, at the hands of Royal Challengers. Here's more from his interaction with the media.

Excerpts:

On the loss

We definitely didn't do well in the batting department. [We’ll have to] make sure we work on our batting now. We don't have experience in the middle-order, so ... we have to work on it now.

On Kemp's injury status

I think he is coming to Bombay now. So [we’re] making sure he is fit. [He’s] feeling better now.

On whether Uthappa made the most of the dropped chances

Yeah actually the two catches of Robin - I think [they] made the difference. And he battled really well. [The] last two overs we gave 41 runs, I think [that] cost us the game

On Sudeep Tyagi's performance

He bowled really well after the first game. He bowled in the good areas, [he’s] looking good now. That's the one positive point for us.

On back-up options for Kemp

We have to see the wicket in Bombay, then we will decide who’s going to play. But I think we bowled really well ... but didn't bat well in crunch situations. So we have to look now. I will speak to Flem [Stephen Fleming]. We are going to have a practice session tomorrow evening. So [we] hope for the best.

On taking on an in-form Mumbai Indians

In Twenty20 we have to play positive cricket. I don't believe in speaking, I believe in performing. If you look at the last two games, we didn't do well. But you have to play your game, with positive [body] language. If you look at the last two games, we bowled well, we didn't bat well. I think a couple of positive points are coming up now. So we have to make sure that we go with a positive approach and do well in the next game.

On what went wrong with the batting

I think in the middle-order we didn't handle the pressure. Couple of young players [are] coming up now. They didn't do well. I think it’s a learning [curve] for them. I think if you look at international cricket, the more matches you play, you get confidence. I hope we will do well in the next game.

On the decision to bowl first

Yeah we bowled well. They were 110 in probably 15 overs - the last two overs made the difference. But we bowled really well, I think.

On Robin Uthappa's innings

He batted really well.

On missing out on practice on Monday morning

We had a practice [session] in the morning. We had a quality practice [session] in the morning.