MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
For the first time in nearly four years, Mahendra Singh Dhoni returned to the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai to play for Chennai Super Kings. The fans in the stadium were thus elated to see Captain Cool as the legendary cricketer got a great reception from the home crowd. Especially when he came to bat and smashed back-to-back sixes off Mark Wood. The England pacer was stunned by the support Dhoni received that eventually stated that it was the loudest stadium he has played in front of.
Meanwhile, the 33-year-old also revealed the plan they set to dismiss Dhoni. He mentioned that the idea was to never go defensive, and that is the reason why he conceded 12 runs in two deliveries. The pacer also pointed out that the second six that Dhoni hit was amazing as they planned very well before bowling that particular delivery.
“I and KL were talking. We were trying to stay calm and trying to work out how to get him out. In my mind, I was not trying to be defensive. I was actually thinking of ways to stop him from scoring runs and get him out. Unfortunately, it cost me 12 runs. But that second shot, in particular, was an amazing shot. I bowled it exactly where KL and I decided get a bouncer and get it wide so that he has to fetch it if he is to take it. For him to hit it that far was pretty incredible,” Wood was quoted as saying by India Today.
“The noise when he came out to bat and then when he hit those two balls were definitely the loudest I have played in front of. It was eye-opening, but it was a great experience to look back,” he added.
CSK defeated LSG by 12 runs
Kyle Mayers (53 runs off 22 deliveries) gave a perfect start to the visiting team, but unfortunately, they fell 12 runs short in the match. Nicholas Pooran, in the middle overs, wreaked havoc, but once he got out, LSG failed to capitalise while CSK bowlers bowled brilliantly to win their first game of IPL 2023.
Meanwhile, MS Dhoni was very disappointed with his bowlers bowling too many extras and notified he could leave captaincy if they didn’t improve.
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