Delhi Capitals registered their first win of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season with a 20-run victory over defending champions Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, but not before cricket fans around the world witnessed a stunning MS Dhoni cameo. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman scored an unbeaten 37 off 16 balls but the whirlwind strike went in vain as CSK had too many to chase. Dhoni, who was adjudged ‘Electric Striker of the Match’, had the fans in the stadium buzzing, making it feel as if CSK had won the match.
The buzz in the stadium, especially after the crowd witnessed an MS Dhoni special, even led his wife Sakshi to think as if Chennai had emerged triumphant from the match. Sakshi even posted an Instagram story about the story and admitted that she didn’t realize Delhi had won.
As far as the match is concerned, Khaleel Ahmed wrote the story in DC’s favor by dismissing the opening pair of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra for 1 and 2 respectively.
Ajinkya Rahane (45) and Daryl Mitchell (34) tried to get things going for CSK with their 68-run stand. But Axar Patel made the breakthrough by removing Mitchell. Mukesh Kumar came in from the other end to take Rahane away.
Shivam Dube and Sameer Rizvi struggled to add much-needed firepower to CSK’s cause. Dhoni showed up and hit 20 runs off Anrich Nortje in the final over. However, DC’s well-executed plan prevented CSK from winning.
Earlier in the innings, Prithvi Shaw (43 runs off 27 balls) and David Warner (52 runs off 35 balls) opened for Delhi and formed a 93-run partnership to get the Capitals off to a fiery start.
CSK star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Shaw in the 11th over at a crucial juncture when the opener was in red-hot form. Shaw hit four fours and two sixes during his time at the crease.
After the first two dismissals, Pant had the match in hand. However, other DC batters like Mitchell Marsh (18 runs off 12 balls) and Tristan Stubbs (0 runs off 2 balls) did not last long for the Chennai bowling attack.
Matheesha Pathirana was on fire as he took crucial wickets to remove Marsh, and Stubbs in the 15th over.
The Sri Lanka pacer’s third wicket came after he removed Pant in the 19th over. The DC skipper hit four fours and three sixes to take the team past the 190-run mark.
With ANI inputs
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