When the chips were down and Chennai Super Kings needed a hero, MS Dhoni became their saviour for the night against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians in yesterday’s IPL 2022 fixture.
In a virtual eliminator, where a loss would significantly dent either teams’ playoffs chances, Dhoni’s astute game awareness and brute hitting in the final over made a big difference. Despite the Super Kings needing 16 off the last four balls, the legendary batter managed to ace the hopeless equation and pull the game CSK’s way.
Chasing 156 at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, Chennai found themselves 102/5 at the end of the 15th over when Dhoni walked up to the crease. As always, the 40-year-old needed time in the middle and an able aggressor at the other end before he could explode.
South African allrounder Dwaine Pretorius came to the great man’s rescue with a critical knock of 22 off 14 balls, including a pair of boundaries against Mumbai Indians’ spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
But once Pretorious was dismissed at the start of 20th over, it all came down to Dhoni against Jaydev Unadkat, a battle where the experienced left-arm pacer didn’t do much wrong and yet had to taste the bitter disappointment of losing the game for his side.
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It was an assault that added to MS Dhoni’s legacy and legend and reinforced his value with bat in hand to CSK aged 40.
After starring in another sensational final-over chase, Dhoni got the social media buzzing with fans and prominent names from the cricket fraternity showering rich praise on him.
