The cricketing world erupted on Sunday night as MS Dhoni turned back the clock with a breathtaking display of power-hitting in the final over of Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) clash against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium.
MS Dhoni steals the show
Put in to bat first, CSK looked set to post a challenging target with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (69 off 40) and all-rounder Shivam Dube (66 not out off 38) anchoring their innings with belligerent half-centuries. However, the iconic Wankhede crowd roared with delight when Dhoni walked to the crease with just four balls remaining in the first innings.
Facing Hardik Pandya, Dhoni unleashed his vintage form, smashing three consecutive deliveries for sixes. The first ball sailed majestically over long-off, the second found the long-on stands, and the third, a full toss, was dispatched effortlessly over deep square leg. Dhoni finished unbeaten on a stunning 20 runs from just four deliveries, guiding CSK to 206 for the loss of 4 wickets.
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This late cameo of Dhoni not only took CSK total above 200 but also served as a powerful reminder of the former CSK captain’s finishing prowess. Cricket fans and pundits alike took to social media, hailing Dhoni’s heroics with the hashtag #DhoniTheFinisher trending on various platforms.
Here are the reactions from current and former cricketers for Dhoni:
Mahi bhai 🫡 @ChennaiIPL #IPL2024 #CSKvsMI
— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) April 14, 2024
DHONI 🚀
— Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5) April 14, 2024
M S D Finisher 🔥🔥🔥
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) April 14, 2024
What an atmosphere here at the Wankhede and top of it Dhoni hitting 3 back to back sixes. Truly Electric.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 14, 2024
Wankhede ka Raja kaun… Dhoni pic.twitter.com/0ILtfYmqd1
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 14, 2024
MSD and Wankhede is a different love story 💛❤️#TATAIPL2024
— Jemimah Rodrigues (@JemiRodrigues) April 14, 2024
Let this sink in this man doesn’t play any cricket all year round. He’s one in a billion #DHONI𓃵 #MIvsCSK
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) April 14, 2024
Dear Thala, Just the joy of watching you finish… 🤩 #CSKvsMI https://t.co/r8Lf5qeEHz
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) April 14, 2024
The Man, The Myth, The Mahi 🙇♂️
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 14, 2024
Box office MSD 🙌🏼 🔥 https://t.co/S72wdR3Rvy
— Danielle Wyatt (@Danni_Wyatt) April 14, 2024
Thala Thala dhaan!
Few more years, please 🫶
📷 @JioCinema pic.twitter.com/xXscUQscKF
— Washington Sundar (@Sundarwashi5) April 14, 2024
MI’s Fightback Falls Short
Despite Rohit Sharma’s heroics with the bat (105 not out off 63), the MI batters were unable to reach the finish line and were restricted to 186/6 by the CSK bowlers.
Matheesha Pathirana emerged as the standout performer for CSK, delivering remarkable bowling figures of 4/28 within his allotted four overs.
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