Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) icon MS Dhoni batted for the first time in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season when he ran through the middle during the side’s IPL 2024 match against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Visakhapatnam. Dhoni did not get a chance to bat in CSK’s first two matches after relegating himself in the order. However, the player came into bat against DC when CSK lost by 6. Dhoni walked out to bat amid the raucous reception from the Vizag crowd and ended up hitting 37 instead of 16 balls, an innings that was peppered with 4 fours and 3 sixes.
The moment we’ve all been waiting for #Dhoni #ThalaDharisanam #IPLonJioCinema #TATAIPL #DCvCSK pic.twitter.com/HYlcWz7Tqc
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) March 31, 2024
On the very first ball he faced, Dhoni hit Mukesh Kumar for a boundary and never looked back. Even though CSK lost the match by twenty runs, Dhoni made sure that the crowd got the perfect entertainment with his fireworks.
Here’s how fans reacted to it:
Vintage Dhoni #CSK #WhistlePodu @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/QaspLRyXGp
— Prince Edwin (@GhilliArun666) March 31, 2024
Thala is the best finisher #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/u56TuQwtR5
— __Elvisch (@SakshamJai83012) March 31, 2024
Vintage Thala @msdhoni #CSKVDC pic.twitter.com/geuz4EmxBj
— SANDEEP RC (@SANDEEPRC18) March 31, 2024
MS DHONI – THE GREATEST FINISHER EVER…!!!!
37* (16) with 4 fours and 3 sixes – defeated Nortje for 20 runs in the final. The man still has it, the GOAT of the league. pic.twitter.com/NPUjclvebY
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 31, 2024
A SIX BY MS DHONI…!!!
THE EVERGREEN FINISHER STILL HAS IT. pic.twitter.com/aSPpQfqGeG
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 31, 2024
During the IPL 2024 match against Delhi Capitals, Dhoni also became the first player to reach 300 dismissals in the T20 format.
Dhoni, who is often hailed as one of the best wicketkeepers of the modern era, once again showed his prowess behind the stumps by completing a clinical catch.
Ravindra Jadeja forced a lead from Prithvi Shaw and Dhoni made no mistake behind the stumps as he held on to the ball to complete his 300th T20 dismissal.
The closest wicketkeeper to Dhoni is former Pakistani cricketer Kamran Akmal with 274 dismissals in T20 cricket.
The veteran Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) keeper, who has not taken up the role behind the stumps this season, is at the third spot with 274 T20 dismissals.
South Africa’s Quinton de Kock and England’s Jos Buttler rank fourth and fifth with 270 and 209 dismissals respectively.
(With ANI inputs)
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