Chennai Super Kings (CSK) managed to win an edge-of-the-seat thriller against the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the El Clasico of the IPL. The match came down to the final ball with 4 runs required off the last ball and MS Dhoni dialed back the clock to close the game out.
Batting first, Mumbai struggled early on as they lost both their openers, Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, for second-ball ducks. Suryakumar Yadav continued his amazing form but fell at an inopportune moment after a quickfire 32.
Tilak Varma, who has been a great find for MI, top-scored with a 43-ball 51 and stayed with the lower order to push the total to 155, which looked like a decent score at the halfway stage.
CSK lost Ruturaj Gaikwad on the very first ball of their chase. Mitchell Santner’s promotion didn’t work either before Robin Uthappa and Ambati Rayudu stitched a 50-run partnership.
The duo fell while trying to up the ante and the responsibility fell to Dhoni in the end. In the company of Dwaine Pretorius, he took the game to the last over where 17 runs were required to win the game.
It soon boiled down to 16 off the last 4 deliveries and Dhoni finished it off in vintage style, scoring 6,4,2,4 to take CSK over the line. It is Mumbai’s 7th loss in a row, officially claiming the unwanted record of the worst-ever start in IPL history.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to MI vs CSK:
Once a finisher, always a finisher. Hard luck Mumbai.
#Dhoni #MIvCSK #TATAIPL2022 pic.twitter.com/9Kq3VQ192a
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) April 21, 2022
There are few things in life you DON’T get tired of watching countless times. #Dhoni finishing in style is one of those things in cricket. #PPpedia https://t.co/J3mGziY0yf
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) April 21, 2022
The most awaited match of the tournament #CSKvMI. A much needed innings by our very own @msdhoni bhai at the end, always a delight to watch! Congratulations to the whole #CSK team on another massive win ? #yellove pic.twitter.com/2H0GTZh3xX
— Suresh Raina?? (@ImRaina) April 21, 2022
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 21, 2022
Can we request @msdhoni to come out from retirement for T20 World Cup! #Dhoni #Mahi #MIvsCSK
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) April 21, 2022
Unreal this is what made this Man the icon he is…THE MAHI MICROPROCESSOR is working perfectly fine…don't u worry about it..absolutely Unreal… #CSKvsMi #IPL20222
— Kartik Murali (@kartikmurali) April 21, 2022
MS Dhoni … Om Finishaya Namaha .
What a win. Romba Nalla #MIvsCSK— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 21, 2022
The GREATEST last over Hitter of all Time … #MSDhoni #Fact #IPL2022
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 21, 2022
MSD for World Cup, anyone? @msdhoni #CSKvsMi #Dhoni
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) April 21, 2022
This kind of shot is totally demoralising to any bowler. Had the desired effect. @msdhoni #devastating pic.twitter.com/0aCUxdYpZH
— simon hughes (@theanalyst) April 21, 2022
This gesture from Ravindra Jadeja sums up the admiration every player has for MS Dhoni!!
Why wouldn't they? Look at how he finished off a tough chase again when he isn't even at the peak of his abilities anymore!!#MIvCSK pic.twitter.com/2A5MxRINbC
— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) April 21, 2022
How is he still doing it ? #MSD
Congratulations @ChennaiIPL— Ridhima Pathak (@PathakRidhima) April 21, 2022
Can we request @msdhoni to come out from retirement for T20 World Cup! #Dhoni #Mahi #MIvsCSK
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) April 21, 2022
What a thrilling finish! Who would have thought? Legend of #MSDhoni grows a notch higher!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 21, 2022
The greatest last over batter. What a win from Dhoni. Calmness and flawless execution. #MIvsCSK
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) April 21, 2022
Unreal this is what made this Man the icon he is…THE MAHI MICROPROCESSOR is working perfectly fine…don't u worry about it..absolutely Unreal… #CSKvsMi #IPL20222
— Kartik Murali (@kartikmurali) April 21, 2022
@msdhoni you are no more just a finisher, you are the ? of finishers ever! What an unbelievable hitting, from here on we should see the yellow brigade @ChennaiIPL come back! #CSKvsMi #Dhoni
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) April 21, 2022
Greatest finishers in sport.
Ronaldo
Messi
MS Dhoni
The Coolest Man in Navi!@SPFleming7
What d’you reckon?@ChennaiIPL #Dhoni #Finisher #IPL— Alan Wilkins (@alanwilkins22) April 21, 2022