Dhoni had celebrated Chennai's win over Punjab in crucial IPL 2010 match by punching his helmet.
With a playoff spot on the line, Dhoni remained composed and helped Chennai defeat Punjab by six wickets at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala.
With 16 runs to win off the last over, Dhoni and CSK were under enormous pressure to win the match and finish the league stage in the top four. Dhoni hit four off Irfan Pathan's first ball of the over, a yorker through the long off zone. Dhoni took a single on the second delivery, reducing the goal to 10 runs off four balls.
However, with pressure mounting, Dhoni smacked Pathan for consecutive sixes to win the game for CSK, and Dhoni celebrated by punching his helmet while Albie Morkel hugged him from behind. Thanks to his exploits, CSK qualified for the playoffs and eventually won the IPL 2010.
Dhoni won the Player of the Match award for scoring 54 runs off 29 balls.
Recalling that match, Michael Hussey called Dhoni’s celebration one of the most emotional moments seen from the usually calm and composed cricketer.
“I do remember that game vividly. We were fifth on the table coming into the match. We needed to win that last match to get into the playoffs, to make fourth position. And we were struggling in the match. And MS Dhoni came in and made 50 runs off 20 oddballs to win the game, but he needed two sixes from the last two balls off Irfan Pathan, I think.
And sure enough, it’s probably one of the most emotional moments I’ve seen from him. When he hit that second ball for six, he was punching his helmet with excitement. It was an amazing feeling. Just being able to be there and witness it,” Hussey told R Ashwin on the latter’s YouTube channel.
After their win over Punjab, CSK then defeated now now-defunct Deccan Chargers by 38 runs in the semi-final. In the final, Chennai beat Bengaluru by 22 runs at the DY Patil Stadium.
“But then what followed that was unbelievable as well. We took so much momentum from that into the playoffs and eventually won the tournament. And it just goes to show you, he was in that situation again where the game was on the line. And it’s amazing how often he was able to deliver and deliver victory for the team. So, yeah, what a player,” Hussey added.
That was CSK’s first IPL title and MS Dhoni helped them win four more titles before stepping down as CSK captain in IPL 2024 as a five-time IPL winning skipper.
(India Today inputs)