MS Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings are synonymous with each other. The CSK captain has been with the team since the first season of the Indian Premier League, and has led them to three titles. In addition to winning the IPL title thrice, CSK have also made the most appearances in the playoffs (10) and in the final (8). They have the highest win percentage of matches among all teams (59.83%) and have also won the Champions League T20 in 2010 and 2014. All of that under Dhoni’s captaincy. A smart captain, good finisher, and a terrific wicketkeeper, Dhoni has played several roles for CSK over the last 13 years. Let us take a look at the most memorable knocks of MS Dhoni in the IPL since its inception in 2008.
54* vs Kings XI Punjab – match no. 54 of IPL 2010
Memorable knocks of MS Dhoni in the IPL
One of MS Dhoni’s all-time top IPL knock was seen in the 2010 edition of the tournament. The Super Kings took on a Kumar Sangakkara-led Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in match no. 54 of the season. CSK had won only six of their 13 games and needed to win their final game against Kings XI to qualify for the playoffs.
Batting first, Punjab posted 192 runs on the board, on the back of an unbeaten 88 from Shaun Marsh and 44 from Irfan Pathan. CSK needed 193 runs to win, but their openers – Murali Vijay (13) and Matthew Hayden (5), were dismissed cheaply. But Suresh Raina’s 27-ball 46 and S Badrinath’s 36-ball 53 stabilized the ship. When Badrinath was dismissed in the 16th over, Dhoni walked in with an asking rate of over 12.
16 runs were needed off the last over, with Dhoni taking just four balls to chase the target. He hit Irfan Pathan for two huge sixes in the last over, one of which came in the last ball. Dhoni remained not out on 54 off 29 balls which included five 4s and two 6s. The finishing touch by the skipper helped CSK register a memorable win in Dharamsala and walk into the semi-final of IPL 2010. They went on to defeat Delhi Capitals in the semi-final and Mumbai Indians in the final to lift their first IPL trophy.
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70* vs Royal Challengers Bangalore – match no. 69 of IPL 2011
Memorable knocks of MS Dhoni in the IPL
In the 2011 season of the IPL, RCB had won only one of their first five games. But they made a dramatic turnaround, winning the next seven games on a trot and making it to the playoffs. They met CSK in the last league game at their home ground. After winning the toss, RCB sent CSK to bat first. MS Dhoni was the lone warrior in CSK’s innings; he contributed 70 runs having faced only one-third of the balls.
CSK were at 23/4 by the end of the powerplay. But a 42-run partnership between Dhoni and Wriddhiman Saha brought some respite to the Kings. After Saha was dismissed in the 13th over, wickets kept falling again while Dhoni went on to score an unbeaten 70 off 40 balls. Despite wickets falling around him, Dhoni brought up his fifty off only 32 balls and scored 37 runs off the last three overs.
RCB were set a target of 129 runs which they chased down in 18 overs, thanks to Man of the Match Chris Gayle’s 50-ball 75. The two teams met again in the final, with CSK taking home the trophy.
51 vs Mumbai Indians – match no. 5 of IPL 2013
Memorable knocks of MS Dhoni in the IPL
Mumbai took on arch-rivals Chennai in the fifth match of IPL 2013 at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. After winning the toss, Mumbai elected to bat first and set a target of 149 runs. Most of their batters failed to do anything substantial, with Kieron Pollard being the only exception. Pollard’s 38-ball 57 helped the side reach a respectable total.
In the second innings, CSK were no good either, with none of their first four batsmen having been able to score more than 20 runs. They lost five wickets for just 66 runs, but Dhoni’s 26-ball 51 changed the course of the game. During his knock, Dhoni slammed five 4s and three 6s before losing his wicket to Munaf Patel in the last over, as CSK lost the game by nine runs. Once again, Dhoni was the lone fighter in the chase.
70* vs Royal Challengers Bangalore – 24th match of IPL 2018
Memorable knocks of MS Dhoni in the IPL
Finisher MS Dhoni was at work again when RCB took on CSK in the 24th match of IPL 2018 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Batting first, half-centuries by Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers helped RCB post a total of 205 runs on the board.
Chasing a monumental target of 206, the yellow brigade was 74 for 4 at one stage. But Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu forged a 101-run partnership to save CSK embarrassment. Dhoni took the RCB bowlers to the cleaners with his unbeaten knock of 70 runs off only 34 balls, during which he hit seven maximums and one four. Rayudu, on the other hand, contributed with a 53-ball 82. CSK won by five wickets with two balls to spare and Dhoni was awarded the Player of the Match award.
79* vs Punjab Kings – 12th match of IPL 2018
In match no. 12 of IPL 2018 against the Punjab Kings, Dhoni scored 79* off 44 balls that included six boundaries and five maximums. Chasing 198 to win, CSK fell short of the target by four runs despite Dhoni’s blinder. Punjab posted a target of 198, with Chris Gayle top-scoring with a 33-ball 66.
CSK were struggling at 56/3 before Ambati Rayudu and Dhoni stitched a partnership. CSK needed 17 runs off the last over, but Mohit Sharma defended these runs successfully.
63* vs Mumbai Indians – final of IPL 2013
It was the final of the IPL 2013 between Mumbai and Chennai. After restricting MI to 148, Chennai lost quick wickets at the top and found themselves at 58/8 at one stage. But Dhoni kept hopes of CSK fans alive, smashing the bowlers all around the park, despite no support from his second fiddles. He remained unbeaten on 63 off 45 balls with 3 fours and 5 sixes. Although CSK lost the final, they lost is respectfully.
75* vs Rajasthan Royals – 12th match of IPL 2019
In match no 12 of IPL 2019, MS Dhoni registered his highest IPL score with an unbeaten 75 vs Rajasthan Royals. His knock, which came off 46 balls and was laced with four fours and four sixes, helped CSK post 175 in their 20 overs. Apart from Dhoni, the only other valuable contribution was from Suresh Raina, who scored a 32-ball 36. The hosts won by eight runs and Dhoni was awarded Player of the Match award.
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