Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni sent a rapturous Chepauk crowd to their feet time and again on Wednesday as he turned back the years to score a quickfire 32 off just 17 deliveries against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday evening.
In fact, Dhoni almost did the unthinkable by pulling off an incredible heist in what was his 200th game as CSK captain.
When Dhoni came out to bat, CSK needed almost 63 runs from 30 balls. Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal did a fantastic job to restrict the CSK captain and his partner Ravindra Jadeja from hitting boundaries which cranked up the required rate to 18 in the last three overs.
Sound on 🔊
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) April 12, 2023
💛 Spread the #Yellove, start the whistles, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has walked out into the middle at Chepauk 👌#CSKvRR #TATAIPL #IPLonJioCinema | @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/MCtXauUugV
Dhoni is known to take chases deep and he did not disappoint even at the age of 41. He began to counterattack when Adam Zampa came on to bowl the 18th over. The leggie was greeted with a sweep that raced to the fine leg fence.
In the fourth ball, Zampa tossed one up outside off and Dhoni smashed that one over deep midwicket for a maximum which sent the sea of yellow at Chepauk absolutely berserk.
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In the 19th over, it was Jadeja's turn to join the party as he smashed Jason Holder for two sixes and a boundary to take the score to 155.
With 21 runs to get from six balls, Dhoni had his task cut out. Sandeep Sharma charged in and started the over with two wides which made it evident that the nerves were getting the better of the bowler.
But Sharma's second ball, a low full toss on the pads, was dispatched to the deep fine leg fence for a flat six by Dhoni. Next ball was another low full toss and Dhoni hit it for another six, bringing the roof down at Chepauk.
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But Sharma held his nerve and pulled things back. In the last ball, CSK needed five with Dhoni on strike. Sharma got his yorker in the slot and despite giving his best shot to scoop it out the former India skipper could only drag it to midwicket.
CSK's "Thala" had almost delivered them to the promised land but just fell short by three runs. However, the way Dhoni took the game to the last ball, courtesy of some magnificent power hitting, it was evident that the World Cup winner still has some cricket left in him.
When is Dhoni in action next?
CSK will be in action next on Monday, April 17, when they take on arch-rivals RCB. Dhoni, who had some discomfort while batting against RR, is expected to be fit to lead the four-time IPL winners.
