Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lost their opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 to Gujarat Titans by five wickets on Friday (March 31). Riding on Ruturaj Gaikwad's stellar 92 off 50, CSK posted a challenging total of 178/7. MS Dhoni also gave a glimpse of his explosive batting with 7-ball 14 in which he tonked a six and as many boundary. Dhoni, who was doubtful starter for the opener initially, swept aside all the speculations with his fierce batting. But during GT's chase, Dhoni gave everyone a major injury scare when he he hurt himself after landing awkwardly on his injured left knee and was seen wincing in pain.
Deepak Chahar bowled a delivery down the leg side and the ball dodged the diving Dhoni and raced towards the boundary line. In the process Dhoni injured himself and thus the physios were called in to monitor the veteran's knee.
Meanwhile, while giving an update on Dhoni's injury CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said that Dhoni was nursing a sore knee prior to the tournament, saying that the veteran cricketer just had a cramp on Friday.
"He was always playing. Not sure where that story came from. He was nursing a sore knee throughout the month of pre-season, but today it was just cramps, it wasn't the knee. He's not going to be as quick and nimble as he was 15 years ago, but he is still a great leader of the side and, even with the bat, he is still going to play a part. He knows his limitations and he is a valuable player to have on the field. He is a legend," Fleming said during a press-conference.
Know the PBKS vs KKR's live scores here
Gaikwad scored an explosive 92 runs to help CSK amass 178/7 after they were sent to bat by Gujarat skipper Hardik Pandya. In reply, the Titans chased down the target in 19.2 overs with Shubman Gill scoring a 36-ball 63. Earlier, Gaikwad smashed nine sixes even though wickets fell at regular interval at the other end. For the Titans, spinner Rashid Khan (2/26) and pacers Mohammed Shami (2/29) and Alzarri Joseph (2/33) picked two wickets each.
Dhoni-led CSK will now lock horns with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday (April 3) at the Chepauk.
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