While former India skipper MS Dhoni enjoys a huge fan following across the globe, his craze is on a different level among the cricket fans in Chennai. It has a lot to do with the fact that Dhoni has brought astonishing success for CSK over the years, leading them to four IPL and two Champions League titles.
On Monday (April 3), CSK played their first home match of the ongoing IPL season at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai against Lucknow Super Giants and the crowd went bonkers while cheering for their beloved captain.
Dhoni came out to bat at No. 8 in the final over and smashed a six off the first ball while facing Mark Wood. The CSK captain also deposited the second ball for a six before being dismissed on the third delivery by Wood.
Speaking to reporters, Mark Wood lauded Dhoni for hitting those sixes despite him and his captain KL Rahul sticking to their plans.
"I and KL were talking. We were trying to stay calm and trying to work out how to get him out. In my mind, I was not trying to be defensive. I was actually thinking of ways to stop him from scoring runs and get him out. Unfortunately, it cost me 12 runs. But, that second shot in particular was an amazing shot. I bowled it exactly where KL and I decided, get a bouncer and get it wide so that he has to fetch it if he is to take it. For him to hit it that far was pretty incredible," Wood said.
The England pacer further added that the noise when Dhoni came out to bat and hit those sixes at Chepauk was the loudest he has ever experienced.
"The noise when he came out to bat and then when he hit those two balls were definitely the loudest I have played in front of. It was eye-opening but it was a great experience to look back."
Wood claimed a 5-wicket haul in LSG’s season opener against Delhi Capitals while he picked up three scalps against Chennai Super Kings by conceding 49 runs in a high-scoring affair.
The speedster wants to improve after his expensive spell in Chennai.
"I am happy. But went for a lot of runs in the second game. Somewhere in the middle would be perfect. A five-for in the first game, it very rarely happens in T20s. The second game, I gave away a lot of runs, 49 odd runs. I want to improve on that. But it's great that, I got 8 wickets so far.
"Bit of both. I am trying to bowl quick but, at the same time, accurately as well. I am trying to execute what my captain and I plan. I am disappointed that I went for so many, but that was a short boundary, an emotional game for Chennai, Dhoni coming into bat in the last over, there was a lot going on. So there's a bit of perspective as well," he remarked.
