MS Dhoni, the legendary Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain, became the seventh batter in Indian Premier League (IPL) history to reach the 5,000-run milestone during his 12-run knock in IPL 2023 game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday, April 3, 2022.
Dhoni, considered one of the greatest of all-time in IPL history, is the fifth from India and the first-ever wicketkeeper-batter to the feat. He reached the milestone after hitting Mark Wood for back-to-back sixes in the 20th over of CSK innings.
CSK won the match by 12 runs and registered their first points after having lost to Gujarat Titans on March 31.
However, former India opener Virender Sehwag opined that the CSK captain would have bothered less about the milestone and cared more about the win.
"If you ask MS Dhoni, he will ask what difference it makes, whether he has scored 5000, 3000 or 7000 runs, the important thing is to win the trophy, which he has done. I don't think he goes after or thinks about milestones. I was also like that. Who knows how many runs have been scored but it is true that these numbers are remembered later. When you retire, it is remembered that this player scored so many runs in the IPL," he told Star Sports.
Sehwag also said that with Dhoni being a lower order batter, it is a huge feat for the keeper-batter to reach the 5,000-run milestone and it is unlikely to be ever achieved in IPL by a players who bats at Dhoni's position.
"The expectation is that the top-order batters will score the most runs. MS Dhoni comes in the middle order or lower-middle order and he has scored 5000 runs. No player might be able to score so many runs while playing at that number. He is consistent, scores runs and wins matches for his team. He is a very big player," he said.
CSK will next face Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede on April 8.
