As CSK run-chase in Qualifier 1 got tighter on Sunday, DC head coach Ricky Ponting said while many from his team’s dugout felt the Kings will retain their usual batting order, he no doubts whether MS Dhoni will promote himself ahead of Ravindra Jadeja.
Despite being in contrasting form, Dhoni walked out to bat before Jadeja when CSK lost their well-set opener Ruturaj Gaikwad at the start of the 19th over and the three-time champions required a further 24 off the last 11 balls.
As it happened, the legend of Dhoni rolled back the years, hitting an outstanding cameo of 18* off just six deliveries to take CSK home.
Ponting said he knew given the situation that the CSK captain and great wicketkeeper-batter will come up before Jadeja, even though he had struck only 96 runs during the league stage with a strike-rate of just over 100, while Ravindra had made 227 runs at a strike-rate of 145.51 in the tournament.
“Look, I think he’s been one of the greats, there’s no doubt about that. I think there was a situation tonight when we were sitting in the dugout and thinking ‘Would Jadeja come next? Would Dhoni come out next?’
I put my hand up straightaway and said I’m pretty sure that Dhoni will come out now and try and ice the game,”
Ponting said in the post-match presser, as quoted by ANI.
When CSK required 13 off the last over, DC captain Rishabh Pant made a debatable call to hand the ball to Tom Curran despite lead pacer Kagiso Rabada also having an over left. Pant later explained the rationale behind his move, saying Curran had been the more in-form bowler on the night with figures of 3/16 from his first three overs.
But as Dhoni smashed Curran for three fours in the over and closed out the contest with two balls left, Pant’s decision to keep Rabada out of action fell under great scrutiny.
Ponting confirmed that he was not aware of Pant’s move and it was a decision taken purely by the captain.
“I haven’t had a chance to ask the captain that yet. Obviously those calls are made on the field,”
he said, before indirectly coming in defence of Pant, highlighting Curran’s previous exploits on the night.
