The CSK skipper scored 44 not out off 22 balls against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday and thrashed Boult all over the park in the 20th over.
MS Dhoni was at his breathtaking best in the IPL 2019 match between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday (May 1).
After being put into bat, CSK lost Shane Watson for duck. The pair of Faf Du Plessis (39 off 41 balls) and Suresh Raina (59 off 37 balls) then bailed the home team out of trouble with an 83-run partnership. Coming into bat in the 14th over, Dhoni wreaked havoc on DC bowlers from the outset. The CSK skipper added 43 runs for the fourth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja, who played a cameo of 25 in just 10 balls.
Dhoni eventually finished with 44 not out off 22 balls (4 fours and 3 sixes) to help Chennai post above par total of 179/4 in 20 overs. CSK accumulated 21 runs from last over bowled by Trent Boult with Dhoni contributing 19, including a boundary and couple of sixes.
Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, the CSK captain talked about his last over exploits, saying: “Watch the ball, hit the ball. You’ve spent time, you know the variations. By the 20th over you’re almost ready and you swing at everything. It’s easier for somebody who has played 10-15 deliveries than someone who has just come in.”
Dhoni said the conditions actually favoured the home team even though they lost the toss.
“We knew there wouldn’t be much dew. What we’ve seen is if there’s no dew, there’s assistance for spinners. But when we started, Bhajju pa didn’t get any turn. But as they started losing wickets, it started spinning, it started turning. Cricket is such a game,” he added.
Apart from his batting, Dhoni also impressed with his sharp glovework. Delhi Capitals skipper Shreyas Iyer and all-rounder Chris Morris were the victims of his lightning fast stumping.
Asked about his wicketkeeping, Dhoni said: ”I think it’s something that’s come from tennis ball cricket. But you still have to do the basics and graduate to that level. If you want to keep like that you can make mistakes; so I still think basics are most important.”
By bowling out Delhi Capitals for 99, the defending IPL champions didn’t only register a thumping 80-run victory but also dethroned Iyer and company from the top of the points table.
CSK will take on Kings XI Punjab in their last league match on April 5 at PCA Stadium, Mohali.