Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) icon MS Dhoni batted for the first time in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) when he walked out in the middle during the side’s IPL 2024 game against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Visakhapatnam. Dhoni didn’t get the chance to bat in CSK’s first two matches, having demoted himself in the order. The player, however, came out to bat against DC when CSK went 6 down. Dhoni walked out to bat amid raucous reception from the crowd in Vizag and ended up slamming 37 not out off 16 balls, an innings that was laced 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. Though CSK lost the match by 20 runs, Dhoni made sure the crowd got the perfect entertainment through his pyrotechnics.
Here is how the fans reacted to it:
Vintage Dhoni #CSK #WhistlePodu @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/QaspLRyXGp
— Prince Edwin (@GhilliArun666) March 31, 2024
Thala is tha best finisher #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/u56TuQwtR5
— __Elvish (@SakshamJai83012) March 31, 2024
Vintage Thala @msdhoni #CSKVDC pic.twitter.com/geuz4EmxBj
— SANDEEP RC (@SANDEEPRC18) March 31, 2024
MS DHONI – THE GREATEST EVER FINISHER…!!!!
37* (16) with 4 fours and 3 sixes – smashed Nortje for 20 runs in the final over. The man has still got 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 HAS STILL GOT 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 dismissal mark 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 out an edge from Prithvi Shaw and Dhoni didn’t make a mistake behind the stumps as he held onto the ball to complete his 300th T20 dismissal.
The wicketkeeper who comes closest to Dhoni is former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal with 274 dismissals in T20 cricket.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) veteran keeper who hasn’t taken the role behind the stumps this season is in the third spot with 274 T20 dismissals.
South Africa’s Quinton de Kock and England’s Jos Buttler are on the fourth and fifth spot with 270 and 209 dismissals respectively.
(With ANI Inputs)
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