IPL 2021: Feeling Really Emotional About MS Dhoni, Says Sanjay Manjrekar

Cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar said that he felt emotional seeing MS Dhoni finish games even when the latter is at the peak of his playing career.

On Sunday, the CSK skipper displayed a replica of his old playing days as he smashed 18 runs off six deliveries to finish the game for CSK with three fours and a six against Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 1.

Vintage MS Dhoni takes CSK to its ninth IPL final

CSK needed 24 runs off the last two overs, and their well-settled opener Ruturaj Gaikwad departed on the very first ball of the penultimate over bowled by Avesh Khan.

Then walked the skipper, promoting himself ahead of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, and dispatched an Avesh Khan’s short ball over the deep mid-wicket for a six to bring the equation down to 13 runs from the final over.

DC skipper Rishabh Pant handed the final over to England pacer Tom Curran ahead of Kagiso Rabada. The former got the wicket of his countrymen, Moeen Ali, on the first ball of the over itself.  But Dhoni spoiled the party as he smashed three boundaries in a row to finish the game in his own trademark.

The lion is much older now: Sanjay Manjrekar on MS Dhoni

Manjrekar said that Dhoni’s confidence within himself was incredible and called him a lion for taking the courage to bat in a challenging and intensive situation of the match.

“I am feeling really emotional about MS Dhoni. The lion is much older now, but to have that belief to go and bat in that position with Jadeja after him and then finding the shots under pressure to get those winning runs. There were other heroes as well, but Dhoni reminded everyone about why we rate him as one of the all-time greats in white-ball cricket,”  Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo.

“Just that confidence and the belief that he can do it, and that this stage of your career, you back yourself to do it, and put yourself in the firing line. Incredible,” concluded Sanjay Manjrekar.

CSK eked out Delhi Capitals by four wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to secure the first finalist spot in IPL 2021.

Also Read: IPL 2021: MS Dhoni Is The Man You Want In That Kind Of Situation – Robin Uthappa