MS Dhoni, former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain, displayed flashes of his magnificent career on Thursday (April 21) by smashing 16 runs off the last four deliveries against the Mumbai Indians (MI). With 28* off 13 deliveries, the wicketkeeper-batter stayed unbeaten, guiding his side to a thrilling last-ball victory at the DY Patil Sports Academy Stadium.
Jaydev Unadkat, who bowled the final over, took the brunt of the punishment from a resurgent Dhoni. In that over, he sent the first delivery he faced over the long-off ropes for a six, and he flicked the next one for a four. The Chennai talisman then scored two runs and slammed a four off the final ball to put the game away.
Unadkat had dismissed South African all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius after he scored a crucial 22 off 14 balls, but the left-arm bowler failed to trouble Dhoni. Sanjay Manjrekar, a former India player, questioned Unadkat's strategy against Dhoni, saying he couldn't believe he was watching Unadkat bowl the first delivery in the arc of the veteran batter.
“It seems like Jaydev Unadkat has gone to sleep all this while when Dhoni was batting at whatever level. Because this is what Dhoni does. Even at this stage, he has the ability to hit sixes but he doesn't hit every ball for a six. But even if he becomes 60 years old, he will hit you for a six if you bowl there. I was in disbelief when I saw the first ball... normal pace and in the slot where Dhoni likes it," Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo after the game.
"Jaydev Unadkat has had these types of overs before but I'd a soft corner. But today, forget about what Dhoni did... no bowler would've bowled against him in that slot. He (Unadkat) followed it up with a bouncer with fine leg fielder inside the circle.
IPL 2022: DC head coach Ricky Ponting to miss RR clash after family member tests positive
"All he (Unadkat) needed was pace off the ball and good length deliveries. Because they (Mumbai Indians) had Unadkat bowling the final over, the match was lost," he added.
With the three-wicket win, Chennai gained two critical points, while Mumbai's seventh straight loss effectively destroyed the team's chances of making the playoffs.
