IPL 2019 | In the 20th over, I am ready to swing at everything, says MS Dhoni

Delhi Capitals had put Chennai Super Kings to bat first in Wednesday’s encounter. Things had started exceedingly well for DC as Shane Watson, who failed to score a run in nine balls before being dismissed, and Faf du Plessis could only manage seven runs in the first four overs. However, Suresh Raina’s fifty and Ravindra Jadeja’s 25 off 10 before getting dismissed had set a good platform for MS Dhoni. CSK were standing at 140/3 at the end of the 18th over. The skipper had scored 13 of his first 12 deliveries, however, he followed it up with 29 in the next ten deliveries to take the side’s score to 179. Dhoni revealed that he was ready to swing the bat at every delivery.

"Watch the ball, hit the ball. You've spent time, you know the variations. By the 20th over you're almost ready and you swing at everything. It's easier for somebody who has played ten to 15 deliveries than someone who has just come in. It was holding on a bit, it wasn't coming on nicely,” he said at the post-match ceremony, reported Cricbuzz.

The ball started turning heavily after a few overs in the second innings. Harbhajan Singh opened the bowling along with Deepak Chahar and the duo had scalped one wicket each. Imran Tahir and Ravindra Jadeja wreaked havoc as they scalped seven wickets amongst them, ensuring Delhi Capitals’ innings is wrapped up one run short of hundred. Dhoni was delighted that the conditions favoured them though they lost the toss. 

"We knew there wouldn't be much dew. What we've seen is if there's no dew, there's assistance for spinners. But when we started, Bhajju pa didn't get any turn. But as they started losing wickets, it started spinning, it started turning. Cricket is such a game,” he expressed.

The skipper had effected two lightning-quick stumpings in the 12th over of Ravindra Jadeja which sent Shreyas Iyer and Chris Morris back to the dressing room. He shared that practice has enabled him to master his glove work.

"I think it's something that's come from tennis ball cricket. But you still have to do the basics and graduate to that level. If you want to keep like that you can make mistakes; so I still think basics are most important,” the 37-year-old explained.

The spin trio of Tahir, Jadeja, and Harbhajan have been lethal and they have 43 wickets amongst them so far. Jadeja felt that they have worked very well in tandem.

“I was enjoying my bowling. There was a lot of turn on the surface. I was just trying to bowl in good areas, and the wicket was doing the rest for me,” he said.

“Tahir has been fantastic throughout the season. He has taken wickets for us whenever we needed. Me, Immibhai (Tahir) and Bhajju have done well, and as a bowling unit, we need to put a lot of effort into our bowling and our the skills. We applied ourselves quite well,” he added.

CSK, with 18 points, are now likely to finish within the top two of the points table and Jadeja could not hold back his praise for the skipper hoping that the side will continue their good run. 

“In one word, MS Dhoni is a genius. We still have one more game, and we need to continue the momentum. Everyone is in good form, and we need to take it one game at a time,” signed off the 30-year-old.