Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni has played numerous memorable knocks in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history. With his extraordinary ability to finish matches under tremendous pressure and his calming capacity to dig his team out of a precarious situation, Dhoni has unleashed a few knocks that will remain indelibly etched in the tournament's history. Ahead of the 17th season of the cash-rich tournament, let's take a closer look at Dhoni's five most astonishing knocks in IPL.
1. Dhoni's 54 not out vs KXIP (now Punjab Kings)
MS Dhoni is rarely seen expressing his emotions on the field but in 2010, the CSK captain was thrilled to bits after leading his team to a stunning victory. Chasing a daunting target of 193 runs against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), CSK needed a miracle after Suresh Raina and Subramaniam Badrinath laid the platform. Dhoni, who has been the miracle man on so many occasions, turned up once again and dragged his team to the promised land.
Needing 16 runs off the over, Dhoni smashed a boundary on Irfan Pathan's first delivery while sending the third and the fourth ball out of the ground to secure a famous win. In the end, Dhoni remained unbeaten on 54 runs off 29 balls. He smashed five fours and two sixes in his knock.
2. Dhoni's 64 not out vs KXIP (now Punjab Kings)
Dhoni's love affair with last-over finishes is well documented, and in 2016, the Punjab-based franchise once again suffered the wrath of the explosive batter's willow. While representing the Rising Pune Supergiants, Dhoni was tasked with scoring 23 runs off the last over after he steadied the ship in the middle overs during a run chase of 173.
Axar Patel delivered the last over for Punjab and Dhoni tonked the left-arm spinner for a four and three sixes. 12 runs were required from the last two balls and Dhoni smashed back-to-back sixes and sent fans into a frenzy. In the end, Dhoni remained unbeaten on 64 runs off 32 balls.
3. Dhoni's 70 not out vs RCB
In the 2018 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), CSK were chasing a target of 206 runs. With the team struggling at 74/4, CSK required another miracle from Dhoni. The wicketkeeper-batter stitched a 101-run alliance with Ambati Rayudu (82 runs off 53 balls) and brought the team back into the contest.
With 16 required off the last over, Dwayne Bravo smashed a four and a six in the first two balls off Corey Anderson's over, setting the stage for a Dhoni finish. On the fourth ball of the over, Dhoni launched a massive six and ensured a five-wicket win for CSK. In the end, Dhoni remained unbeaten on 70 runs off 34 balls with the help of one four and seven sixes.
4. Dhoni's 84 not out vs RCB
Perhaps, one of those rare occasions when CSK lost the match while chasing a target and with Dhoni remaining unbeaten. Nevertheless, it was a herculean effort from the franchise's poster boy. Chasing a tricky target of 162 runs, Dhoni walked out to bat with the team's score at 28/4. Dhoni rebuilt CSK's innings and then went on the offensive. It reached a stage where CSK needed 26 runs from the last over.
Umesh Yadav took the ball for RCB against Dhoni and whacked for 24 runs on the first five deliveries, including a four and three sixes. With just two runs required off the last ball, Dhoni failed to make a connection with the ball and the attempt to run a bye was futile as Parthiv Patel inflicted a run out. Chennai lost the match by a solitary run and Dhoni remained unbeaten on 84 runs off 48 balls with the help of five fours and seven sixes.
5. Dhoni's 75 not out vs RR
In a match against Rajasthan Royals in 2019, Dhoni bailed his team out for the umpteenth time, this time though, while batting first. With the team tottering at 27/3, Dhoni walked out to bat under tremendous pressure against a bowling attack comprising Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes. He started slowly, rebuilt CSK's innings and then unleashed in the death overs.
In the end, Dhoni remained unbeaten on 75 runs off 46 balls with the help of four fours and as many sixes. He helped the team post a defendable score of 175/5. As it turned out, Dhoni's effort proved to be the difference-maker as CSK won the match by eight runs.
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