CSK vs LSG: "Didn't see Brian Lara play..watching MS Dhoni is like.."- Nicholas Pooran goes brutal

Lucknow Super Giants explosive left-hand batter Nicholas Pooran feels that MS Dhoni is a National hero but in reality, the former CSK captain is a National icon as well as a Treasurer.

Pooran made these comments after seeing MSD deliver another death over a blistering knock in IPL 2024 against his team at the Ekana stadium. Dhoni had arrived to bat at number 8, in a tough situation when Chennai was not even looking close to scoring 160. 

However, thanks to MS Dhoni's efforts, the Chennai Super Kings were able to post a 170+ total on the board in a relatively slower track in Lucknow.

The entire crowd in Ekana was waiting to see Dhoni come out to bat even if KL Rahul's side was the home team. As it has been seen before many times across the last 2 seasons, wherever CSK goes, the sea of Yellow Jersey follows them, regardless of whose home ground it is. 

MS Dhoni's death over knock goes in vain but the Lucknow crowd happy to see Thala

The Lucknow Super Giants had won the toss and elected to bowl first. CSK came into the middle with a new opening pair of Ajinkya Rahane and Rachin Ravindra as skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was pushed down at number 3.

The visitors got off to a poor start as Ravindra registered a golden duck in just the first ball of the 2nd over. The Gaikwad came in and took the back seat as Rahane was looking in good touch and was scoring boundaries comfortably. 

And just when it started to look like CSK was having a threatening partnership, Yash Thakur got the breakthrough wicket of Gaikwad for 17 in the 5th over. A few overs later, Rahane was dismissed by Krunal Pandya for 36 off 24.

Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube were at the crease and they needed to do something special from then onwards. But Dube, while trying to pull a short-pitched delivery for a six off Marcus Stoinis, ended up seeing the ball fall on KL Rahul's gloves after going straight up. 

Then Sameer Rizvi wasted a good opportunity to prove his case as he got out for 1. Then Mooen Ali, who came out to bat for the first time this season, departed after scoring 30 off 20 and MS Dhoni took over from there. Thala walked in with loud cheers (as usual) and played an outstanding knock from the lower middle order. 

MS Dhoni batted at a strike rate of 311 and smashed 3 fours and 2 sixes to remain not out 28 off just 9 balls while Jadeja, too, was not out 57. The entire crowd was at its feet and everyone just seemed to admire Dhoni for as long as they could.

However, the target of 177 was chased down quite comfortably by LSG through an opening partnership between KL Rahul and de Kock. 

What did Nicholas Pooran say about MS Dhoni?

While speaking to Star Sports after the match, Nicholas Pooran, after seeing the Ekana stadium turn all Yellow, claimed that it was a moment worth that is worth telling to his grandchildren.

The West Indian then said that MS Dhoni is a National hero, whose craze is unmatched and Pooran also compared MSD with the great Brian Lara. 

"It’s not only this season, but every season. When he was coming in with the bat, there was a sea of yellow outside. It was amazing to see. He is a national hero. We did not play at the time of Brian Lara; everyone is a die-hard fan of him. But it’s nice to witness something like that. It feels good being in that position, but happy to be on the park with him, share those moments, so that we can tell our kids and grandchildren." - Nicholas Pooran said via Star Sports.