Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon MS Dhoni rolled back the years with an entertaining cameo during the side’s IPL 2024 match against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Vizag on Sunday.
Dhoni, who batted for the first time this season, smashed an unbeaten 37 off just 16 balls, striking at a rate of over 231, albeit in a losing cause. The former CSK captain hit Anrich Nortje for 20 in the final over, but his side fell as many runs short of DC’s total. Dhoni didn’t bat in CSK’s first two matches, but gave his fans something to rejoice in the third game.
On the very first ball he faced, Dhoni struck Mukesh Kumar for a boundary. He managed to collect another four in the same over, sending the crowd in Visakhapatnam into raptures.
Dhoni then hit Khaleel Ahmed for a six in the next over, before ending the game with two fours and as many maximums in the final over.
Talking about the game, DC defeated CSK by 20 runs to register their first victory in IPL 2024, also handing the defending champions a first loss in the ongoing campaign.
Chasing a 192-run target, CSK were rattled by pacers Khaleel Ahmed (2/21) and Mukesh Kumar (3/21), and ended up at 171 for six.
Ajinkya Rahane (45, 30b), Daryl Mitchell (34, 26b) and MS Dhoni (37 not out, 16b) tried their best but DC bowlers were on the money this night.
Earlier, strong fifties by captain Rishabh Pant and veteran opener David Warner led Delhi Capitals to 191 for five.
Pant (51, 32 balls) and Warner (52, 35 balls) found good support from opener Prithvi Shaw (43, 27 balls).
It was Pant’s first fifty in this IPL.
Pacer Matheesha Pathirana (3/31) was the most successful bowler for CSK.
DC missed the services of left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav because of a niggle.
