IPL 2023: For MS Dhoni and CSK, a candy homecoming

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IPL 2023: For MS Dhoni and CSK, a candy homecoming

Synopsis: Chepauk loyalists waited for 1,426 days to see their favourite ‘Thala’, MS Dhoni and his workforce in motion. When the day got here, Chennai Super Kings had a superhit night by defeating Lucknow Super Giants by 12 runs.

first day first present

The MA Chidambaram Stadium has been massively revamped and has loads of sparkle, however for a workforce that steps out on it to tackle the Super Kings, not a lot has modified. The so-called ‘educated crowd’, which often appreciates a great struggle and by no means shies away from applauding the opposing gamers, has made the venue intimidating for visiting groups. The unconditional love at his fort ‘Ambuden’ – the place he gained 40 of the 56 matches he performed and loved a 71.4% win share – is one thing reserved just for the Men in Yellow.

Lucknow Supergiants received it proper by Monday night. The whistle was not blowing when Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway received him to a supersonic begin. When Shivam Dube and Moeen Ali stalled within the center overs, they began chanting the previous’s title as he responded with three sixes that gave Chennai the momentum once more. As Lucknow saved chopping wickets, they chanted “Hum Dhoni chahte hain” earlier than letting out a collective sigh. When Dhoni got here within the final over, he cleared his throat for good. Or so that you thought. But as quickly as he hit Mark Wood for a six at 149 kmph – paying homage to Nuwan Kulasekar’s supply on the Wankhede on April 2, 2011 – it reached a crescendo. Surely, it will probably’t get louder than this? A ball later, you had the reply as Wood despatched a bouncer – a supply that has troubled batsmen the world over – huge of off stump, and Dhoni, 41, was deposited into the stands with a pull. Dhoni perished subsequent ball, however 35,000 followers received what they paid for.

in high gear

They have been ready for this second without end, to see their workforce come true and when the day got here, the Super Kings didn’t disappoint them. Gaikwad carried on from the place he led to Ahmedabad, and Conway matched him shot for shot as Chennai scored 79 runs within the powerplay with out dropping a wicket – their highest on the venue – as Lucknow Super Giants opened up. And so did the 35,000 followers who had been outdoors the Super Kings’ template at house. At house, he often sticks to a set method of scoring within the 165-180 vary and bludgeoning the opponents with spinners.

In the final three years that he has performed, particularly since 2021, he has seemed to vary his method, being far more expressive with the bat, because of his depth in batting. Still, nobody noticed him coming to Chepauk. Barring Ravi Bishnoi – he too had a expensive over towards Shivam Dube – the remainder of the Lucknow bowling unit had been on the receiving finish of Chennai’s assault. And none bore him greater than Krunal Pandya and Okay Gautam, who between them took 41 runs in three overs. Even Wood, who had ravaged Delhi Capitals together with his tempo two days in the past, was not spared because the Chennai batsmen took benefit of his tempo and the openers added 110 runs in 9 overs .

From there on, despite the fact that Chennai misplaced wickets, Dube, Moeen, Ambati Rayudu and Dhoni performed cameos to take them to 217/7.

spinner to the rescue

On a flat deck, and seemed utterly out of the depth when defending 178 in Ahmedabad, regardless of having 217 to defend, it was a take a look at of character for the Chennai assault. And when Kyle Mayers began the chase with a characteristically blistering innings, the entire did not look nicely inside Lucknow’s attain as 50 got here up in 3.4 overs. By the time Mayer – 53 off 22b (8×4, 2×6) – walked into the sixth over, Lucknow had been already 79.

And Dhoni seemed very indignant. Even the spinners had failed to save lots of him in Ahmedabad, however this was not going to occur in Chepauk. If the Lucknow spinners – barring Bishnoi – had been very fast on the pitch, then Chennai’s Moeen Ali and Mitchell Santner had been very gradual within the air. After scoring 80 runs within the powerplay, Lucknow may solely muster 30 runs within the subsequent six overs, dropping Deepak Hooda, KL Rahul and Krunal Pandya within the subsequent 5 overs. Moeen, specifically, was the stand-out of many, as he not solely offered ample air but additionally grip and switch of the ball, forcing batsmen to go for giant boundaries and leaving the remainder to the fielders.

That section introduced Chennai again into the sport. Even although Lucknow had been within the recreation until Nicholas Pooran (32 off 18b), their pacers held their nerves – there was loads of work to do for Chennai within the tempo division – to seal a 12-run victory.


With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS

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