IPL 2024, MI vs CSK: MS Dhoni's hat-trick of sixes trumps Rohit Sharma's 2nd IPL century as Chennai beat Mumbai by 20 runs

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) by 20 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match on April 14 (Sunday) at the Wankhede Stadium. Rohit Sharma's 2nd IPL century was overshadowed by MS Dhoni's hat-trick of sixes and Matheesha Pathirana's four-wicket haul. As a result, the Super Kings remained in third place on the points table after the win while Mumbai slipped to eighth place in the standings. 

The Chennai-based franchise registered its fourth win of the season while it has two loses in six matches played. The Mumbai-based franchise has just two wins in six matches played this season so far. 

Rohit Sharma's century goes in vain

Mumbai Indians faced a formidable 207-run chase against the Chennai Super Kings. Opening the innings, Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan got off to a fiery start, putting up 70 runs in just 7.1 overs. Kishan scored 23 runs off 15 balls, including three fours and a six, before getting out. Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for a duck shortly after in the eighth over, leaving Mumbai at 70/2.

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Despite these early setbacks, Rohit Sharma continued his aggressive play, quickly reaching a fifty with a barrage of fours and sixes. Tilak Varma looked set but was dismissed for 31 off 20 balls, which included five fours. Following him, captain Hardik Pandya managed only two runs from six balls. Tim David briefly fired, scoring 13 runs from 5 balls with two sixes, but was also dismissed when Mumbai needed 72 runs from 24 balls.

As the chase intensified, Rohit Sharma, who had a stellar game, and Romario Shepherd were left with the daunting task of scoring 53 runs from the last 18 balls. Pathirana, who had already taken three wickets, bowled Shepherd for just one run in the 18th over, taking his fourth wicket and shifting the momentum towards Chennai.

In the end, Rohit remained unbeaten on 105 from 63 balls, an innings decorated with 11 fours and five sixes, marking his second IPL century. However, his efforts were not enough to secure a win for Mumbai, which ended up scoring 186/6.

For Chennai, Matheesha Pathirana was exceptional, claiming four wickets for 28 runs in four overs, thereby turning the game in Chennai's favour. 

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MS Dhoni's hat-trick of sixes takes CSK past 200

MS Dhoni sent the crowd inside Wankhede Stadium into a frenzy with a scintillating cameo of 20 not out off just four balls. Dhoni's vintage finish complemented impressive half-centuries from Shivam Dube and Ruturaj Gaikwad as the Chennai Super Kings surged to 206/4 in 20 overs.

Dube, who remained unbeaten on 66 runs with 10 fours and 2 sixes, alongside Gaikwad, who scored 69 runs, combined for a 90-run partnership off just 45 balls during the early and middle stages of the innings. The highlight came as Dhoni thrilled the packed Wankhede Stadium with his classic hitting, smashing three consecutive sixes in the final over bowled by MI captain Hardik Pandya, who ended with figures of 2/43. This late assault helped Chennai amass 26 runs in the last over, propelling the team beyond the 200-run threshold.

CSK's innings started slowly with a new opening duo of Ajinkya Rahane, who scored just 5 runs, and Rachin Ravindra, who made 21 runs.

For Mumbai, Jasprit Bumrah failed to pick a wickets but conceded just 27 runs off his four overs. Gerald Coetzee and Shreyas Gopal bagged a wicket each. 

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