Dhoni statisfied with his team's performance

Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he was not disappointed with his team's performance against Rajasthan Royals despite losing the Indian Premier League (IPL) final by a whisker on Sunday night.

It was a close finish at the DY Patil Sports Academy, where Rajasthan Royals romped home to win the title in the very last ball.

"In the final we were not up to the mark. We are not unhappy because the match went down to the last ball," he said during the presentation ceremony.

He went on to add: "The response from the team members was terrific. Even the players who missed out in earlier matches came out to play their best in this game."

The Super Kings skipper also said there was no turning point in the match and said: "We played as a team and lost as a team."

On the overall performance of his team, Dhoni said: "I am happy with overall improvement of the team specifically the individual performances. That's what the young players are here to experience - like big tournament and a big crowd."

Dhoni admitted that playing back-to-back matches took a toll on his team but attributed it to the demanding format of the game.

Rajasthan Royals clinches the IPL Championship

After 44 days of mind-boggling action and a no-holds-barred feud among eight fierce franchisees, Rajasthan Royals pipped Chennai Super Kings by three wickets in the thrilling grand finale to lift the inaugural Indian Premier League on Sunday. (Watch: Rajasthan Royals win IPL championship)

Chasing Super Kings' modest total of 163 for five, the Royals rode on a brilliant all-round display by Yusuf Pathan, who took three wickets and top-scored with a 39-ball 56 to overhaul the score off the last ball after needing eight from the last over.

Sohail Tanvir (9 not out) hit the winning run, a pull off the expensive L Balaji, in the company of his inspiring captain Shane Warne, who was not out on 9 in a final score of 164 for seven.

The winners received the top prize of $1.2 million and a glittering gem-laden trophy while the runners-up won $600,000

Who was responsible for Punjab's loss?

Kings XI Punjab skipper Yuvraj Singh defended his decision to bat first but blamed his batsmen for his team's humiliating nine-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings in the second semi-final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Saturday.

"It was a good wicket on which a score of 160 to 180 could have been built, but the loss of early wickets did us in," Yuvraj told reporters at the Wankhede Stadium.

He added it was the worst day of the IPL for him. His team scored 112 for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs, whereas Chennai crossed the target in 14.5 overs.

"We lost too many wickets at the top of the order and it is very tough to come back after falling behind in a Twenty20 game. We still thought we had a chance if we had got a few early wickets, but that too did not happen," he said.

Kings XI coach Tom Moody echoed his captain's views saying the team just did not perform to the potential.

"Our batsmen failed to execute the team's plans. The batting stumbled at this hurdle and unfortunately for us this was the hurdle from which there was no coming back as we are out of the tournament now," Moody said.

Asked to comment on the final on Sunday, Moody tipped fellow Australian Shane Warne to guide Rajasthan Royals to the title.

"They have been the most consistent side in the tournament and Shane Warne's captaincy has worked wonders with the players. Though Chennai Super Kings are a dangerous team, I would go with Rajasthan Royals," he said.

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