CSK vs RR: MS Dhoni turns back clock with 32* off 17 in his 200th match as Captain of Chennai
MS Dhoni turned back the clock at Chepauk as he played one of the most memorable innings of the IPL 2023. The former Indian Skipper scored 32 runs off just 17 balls to nearly take his side over the line. But sadly, they fell short by 3 runs.
Dhoni goes big in 200th match as CSK Captain
Chennai is playing their first full campaign at the MA Chidambram stadium after nearly 4 years. And they had the perfect start against Lucknow Super Giants. But that delight could have been doubled in the game against Rajasthan Royals.
Chasing the target of 176. CSK found themselves in troubled waters when they lost their set batter Devon Conway in the 15th over. The target was still 63 runs away and they had just 5 overs to spare.
At that time, stepped in the captain who has rescued his team from such situations ample number of times. Whether it be a magnanimous knock against RCB at home, or Punjab at Dharamshala. Everyone knew that Dhoni had the caliber.
Hence, as he arrived at the crease the hopes were escalated. Everyone expected an MS Dhoni show and they were definitely not disappointed by their Thala.
Dhoni goes big towards end
MS Dhoni took his time to settle in, this didn’t help the team’s cause. And eventually notched the required rate to 18 runs per over. Chennai required 54 runs from the last 3 overs and everyone had given up the hope of a result in their favor.
That is when MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja proved everyone wrong. Dhoni showed some great intent in the 18th over against Zampa. The skipper heaved a huge six over cowcorner to announce his intention.
Then in the final over with 21 required off 6, Dhoni started off in style by smashing 2 consecutive sixes to take down the target to 6 required off 3 balls.
However, Sandeep Sharma deserves all the praise in the world to keep down the Super Kings to 3 off his next three balls to win the game for his side.
Dhoni played an unbeaten knock of 32 runs from just 17 balls, which included 1 four and 3 magnificent strikes into the crowd. He brought the game from out of the reach to almost finishing it in style.
The crowd was elated by what they witnessed on the field. Although the team didn’t win the game, the crowd were left awed by the turning back of the clock by MS Dhoni. His clean striking of the ball left many bamboozled, for a man of 41 in age could do something like it.
Chennai Super Kings might have lost by 3 runs, but MS Dhoni won every heart in the country by his amazing skills with the bat in hand.
RR first inning: Buttler’s fifty, Hetmyer Cameo
Having lost the toss, Rajasthan had a great start tot heir inning. Once again it was Jos Buttler who game them some must needed quick start on the top along with Padikkal. Buttler went on to score another century for this season.
He scored 52 off just 36 and was luckily dismissed at the right time by Moeen Ali. Heymyer then took over where Buttler had left. He too played a blinder of an innings in which he scored some 30* runs from 18 balls to take his side to a respectable total of 175.
Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers for Chennai Super Kings. In his spell of 4 overs, Jadeja gave away just 21 runs and picked up 2 crucial wickets as well.
