MS Dhoni hits two sixes, CSK needs 19 Off 5 Balls against RR. And then it will happen – watch

It was more than just the latest thriller in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 on Wednesday. It was MS Dhoni turning back the clock in his 200th match as captain of the Chennai Super Kings and his team needed him to step up. Chasing 176 against the Rajasthan Royals at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Dhoni entered the fight in 16th with CSK at 113/6. Thanks to amazing shots from Ravindra Jadei and Dhoni, CSK reached 155/6 in 19 overs. They needed 21 from the last over. RR captain Sanju Samson passed the ball to veteran Sandeep Sharma in the last over.

The average player missed two outs in the first two balls, and the equation was reduced to 19 after six balls. Sandeep then scored a point ball and Dhoni went on strike. And then the vintage Dhoni returned when the CSK skipper hit two huge sixes and the equation came down to the seven needed for three balls. Dhoni dropped a single from the fourth delivery followed by another single Jadeja. Dhoni went on strike again and it took a six from their captain to win CSK, but ultimately Sandeep knocked out a yorker on the street and Dhoni was only able to take one. CSK lost by three rounds.

#msdhoni #IPL23 #doni pic.twitter.com/LrdH2gai9b

— Dharmendra Kumar (1130) (@1130Kumar) April 12, 2023

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Previously, Jos Battler wasn’t particularly disruptive in his approach but still managed to make the 18th half century of his IPL career as Rajasthan Royals posted a respectable 175 of 8 after being sent to bat first.

While the Royals scored 135 for 4 after 15 overs, the last five overs were not as productive as they expected, with only 40 runs added and four wickets lost.

Ravindra Jadeja (2/21 for 4 overs) was dangerous on a surface that helped the spinners as usual, even as Battler hit three huge sixes on his 36-ball-52. He had a good second stance with 77 runs with Devdutt Padikkal (38 of 26 balls) who was back in his element after struggling with the Punjab Kings.

Toward the end, Shimron Hetmayer (30 of 18) was always an impressive finisher, while Tushar Deshpande (2/37) had only eight runs in the 20th over.

With PTI inputs