Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar is following every match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 keenly and also sharing his opinion on various aspects of the game.
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Tendulkar recently commented on the duel between Yuzvendra Chahal and MS Dhoni in the 25th game of IPL 2020 between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Dubai on Saturday (October 10).
According to Tendulkar, Chahal 'played chess with Dhoni' in the 16th over, which saw the CSK skipper scoring 9 runs before the wrist-spinner got rid of him in the final delivery.
"When MS Dhoni came to bat then Chahal came in front of him. He gave the first ball in the arc of Dhoni and he effortlessly hit a six and that's his strength. He changed the line on the next ball. He bowled it towards the leg-stump and also he kept the pace slow, expecting that it would take a top-edge and there will be a chance. MS Dhoni realised it and blocked the ball. but then he also started thinking. I think Chahal was playing chess with MS Dhoni, he was playing mind games," Tendulkar said, as quoted by India Today.
Tendulkar further elaborated that Dhoni expected a same length delivery on the next ball and thus he moved a bit towards the leg-stump to get in line of the ball but Chahal again came up with his chess move and bowled the ball towards off, making it hard for the CSK captain to reach the ball.
Chahal's mind game eventually worked as Dhoni couldn't get any power on the shot and was caught by Gurkeerat Singh at long-off.
"MS Dhoni then decided that he would move towards the leg-stump and come line with the ball to play that length on the next delivery but Chahal again used a chess move there and bowled the ball wide of MS Dhoni towards the off-stump. MS Dhoni had to stretch him to reach there, he reached the ball but ball hit in the bottom half of the bat and so he could not generate that power in the shot. Long-off fielder took a catch. These mind games between the two were interesting. Did not go on for long but it was good. Chahal it was a chess move," he explained.
Dhoni scored 10 runs off 6 balls in that game as CSK suffered a 37-run loss at the hands of RCB.
It was CSK’s fifth defeat from seven games in the ongoing IPL. They will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their next match on Tuesday (October 13).
