Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batsman Suresh Raina praised his former franchise and Indian teammate MS Dhoni after his explosive batting cameo against Delhi Capitals (DC) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Sunday. 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 at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Although the home side walked away with the win, the highlight of the match was undoubtedly Dhoni’s late cameo.
In the match, the vintage ‘Thala’ (master) hit sixes like only he does. In the end, he scored 37* in 16 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes. His runs had a strike rate of over 231. In the last over of the match, Dhoni smashed South African pacer Anrich Nortje, one of the best pacers in the world, for 20 runs, including two fours and two sixes.
After his knock, Raina, also known as ‘Chinna Thala’ or Dhoni’s right-hand man among CSK fans, was all praise for Dhoni, saying inspiration knows no age and the 42-year-old’s batting skills at this point of his career. is a testament to his “unparalleled spirit and dedication”.
“Inspiration knows no age! Witnessing @msdhoni Mahi Bhai’s incredible batting prowess at the age of 42 is a testament to his unparalleled spirit and dedication, @JioCinema #DCvCSK,” Raina said in a post on X.
Inspiration knows no age! To give evidence @msdhoni Mahi Bhai’s incredible batting power at the age of 42 is a testament to his unparalleled spirit and dedication. @JioCinema #DCvCSK pic.twitter.com/W8WzD76bcF
– Suresh Raina???????? (@ImRaina) March 31, 2024
Raina represented CSK along with MS for most of his IPL career from 2008-21, barring his stint with the Gujarat Lions (GL) from 2016-17. In 205 IPL matches, Raina has scored 5,528 runs at an average of 32.51 and a strike rate of 136.73. He scored a century and 39 fifties in 200 innings of his IPL career, with a best score of 100*. He is the fifth highest run-scorer in the IPL of all time.
Dhoni is the seventh highest run-getter in IPL history, scoring 5,119 runs at an average of 39.07 and a strike rate of over 136. He scored 24 half-centuries, with a best score of 84*.
DC won the toss and elected to bat first. David Warner (52 in 35 balls, with five fours and three sixes) and a returning Prithvi Shaw (43 in 27 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) started well with an opening partnership of 93 runs. After their dismissal, DC lost direction for a while until Rishabh Pant (51 in 32 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes) finally scored some quick runs to take the side to 191/5 in their 20 overs.
Matheesha Pathirana (31/3) was the choice of the bowlers for CSK.
In the run-chase of 192, Khaleel Ahmed (2/21) and Mukesh Kumar (3/21) hampered the CSK batters with their line and length and at one point CSK were 75/3 in 10.2 overs. Useful knocks came from Ajinkya Rahane (45 in 30 balls, with five fours and two sixes), Daryl Mitchell (34 in 26 balls, with a four and two sixes) and MS Dhoni (37* in 16 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes), but DC secured a 20-run win, restricting the five-time champions to 171/6.
Khaleel was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ for his match-winning spell.
CSK is in second place with two wins and a defeat, which gives it four points. DC are in seventh place, with one win and two losses, which gives them two points.
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