The excitement was palpable at Chepauk as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) chased down a modest target against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Cameras flashed, phones lit up the stadium with their flashlights, and the crowd was electric with anticipation. Everyone expected MS Dhoni, their beloved ‘Thala’ to step up and finish the match in style, a moment they'd waited for nearly a year to witness at their home ground.
MS Dhoni's selfless act
Chepauk craved a Dhoni special, a boundary at least, to justify the ticket prices. However, in a classic Dhoni move, he chose to forego his own glory. Ruturaj Gaikwad, the new CSK captain, had been the star of the chase, and Dhoni, ever the selfless leader, allowed him to hit the winning run.
This wasn't the first time Dhoni had shown such sportsmanship.
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Dhoni gives nostalgia of 2014 T20 World Cup
A similar scene unfolded 10 years earlier in the 2014 T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa. Dhoni, coming in to bat late, needed just one run to win with seven balls remaining. The then-captain, with his deputy Virat Kohli at the other crease, exchanged a knowing smile. The crowd awaited another Dhoni masterclass, but he surprised everyone by letting Kohli finish the match, etching another iconic moment in cricketing history.
But, in a surprising move different from his usual style, Dhoni decided to play it safe on the last ball of the second-to-last over, giving Kohli the chance to bat next. Even though the main batsman didn't agree with what Dhoni did, everyone ended up happy when Kohli hit a four on the first ball of the last over, helping India reach the final. Something very similar happened on April 8 at Chepauk. Dhoni came to bat in the 17th over with CSK needing just three runs to win against KKR in a game where they had to chase 138 runs. Instead of trying to score, he played it safe on the last ball to let Gaikwad bat next. Gaikwad, who was the only one really making runs for his team with his first fifty of the season, made sure Dhoni was back up to bat in the next over with only two runs needed to win.
Dhoni, who recently showed flashes of his old form with an unbeaten 37 off 16 balls against Delhi Capitals, playfully defended a delivery from spinner Anukul Roy. He then took a single run, giving the strike back to the opener Ruturaj Gaikwad. Gaikwad wasted no time, smashing the next ball through the off-side field for a boundary, sealing the victory in style. This win marked Chennai's third victory in IPL 2024, all achieved at their home ground, Chepauk. They had previously suffered consecutive defeats away from home against Delhi and Sunrisers Hyderabad. CSK will next face Mumbai Indians on April 14.
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