Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni was in a cheerful mood during the post-match presentation after his team's comfortable seven-wicket victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 match on Friday, April 21. Although he did not bat, Dhoni's wicketkeeping skills were on display with his brilliant effort to dismiss his counterpart skipper Aiden Markram and stumped Mayank Agarwal, in addition to affecting a run-out with one glove off.
Such was his mood that the former India skipper was 'disappointed' after being denied the 'Catch of the Match award, which went to Ruturaj Gaikwad for his two formidable catches in the first innings. Dhoni jokingly remarked, "Still they didn't give me the best catch award. I was in such a wrong position. Just because we wear gloves, people think it's easy. I felt it was a fantastic catch."
Dhoni also broke the record for most catches by a wicketkeeper in T20 cricket, a record earlier held by Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) Quinton de Kock. He recalled a previous effort made by my former teammate Rahul Dravid and quipped that it's hard to maintain the same level of fitness unless a player was a prodigy like Sachin Tendulkar.
"Long time back I still remember one game - Rahul Dravid was keeping and he caught one like that. Once you get old, that's the only time you get experience. Unless you're Sachin paaji and start playing at 16-17. Definitely old, can't shy away from that."
Dhoni also heaped praise on young Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana for his brilliant bowling performance in the death overs in the last two matches.
"I was hesitant to bat second because I had that feeling there won't be a lot of dew. When there are chances dew, you have to bat second. Spinners once they came in, bowled a very good length. Fast bowlers once they came back, especially Pathirana, bowled superbly," he said.
"I always tell them that the first preference of field setting is with you. I give them suggestions based on the batter and tell them if I feel something won't work. They are executing their plans well," he added.
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