MS Dhoni’s milestone 200th game as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain didn’t go as per plans as Rajasthan Royals (RR) ended up the victors at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai in a thrilling IPL 2023 match on April 12, 2023.
MS Dhoni won the toss and chose to bowl first. RR posted 175/8 in 20 overs thanks to Jos Buttler (52) and contributions from Devdutt Padikkal (38), and 30 runs each from R Ashwin and Shimron Hetmyer, who remained not out.
Akash Singh, Tushar Deshpande, and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each for CSK.
In the chase, Devon Conway (50) and Ajinkya Rahane (31) had a good outing after Ruturaj Gaikwad got out early. But then disciplined bowling from R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, both of whom picked two wickets each in middle overs, CSK found themselves in trouble.
Shivam Dube, Ambati Rayudu, and Moeen Ali all fell for single-digit scores. It was then MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja who took over the chase and countered the increase in required run rate with some big shots.
The biggest of some came in the last two overs when 40 runs were needed and Jadeja (25*) hammered Jason Holder for one four and two sixes.
It all came down to 21 runs in the last over and though MS Dhoni hit Sandeep Sharma for two sixes, the veteran pacer bowled two good yorkers to the experienced finisher to win the game for RR by 3 runs.
The cricket fraternity lauded a brilliant effort from CSK captain MS Dhoni, who remained unbeaten on 32 with 3 sixes and one four.
Here are some of the tweets:
