IPL 2022 | Eternal MS Dhoni’s finishing touch never gets old

When Dwayne Bravo had flicked Jaydev Unadkat towards deep mid-wicket for a single to get MS Dhoni back on strike, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) required 16 off the last four balls to snatch a win in the El Classico of the IPL 2022, against Mumbai Indians (MI). There was, of course, no big deal to make that happen for the ardent Yellow Army if the task was four or five years ago. But at this point, from a man who will turn 41 in just over two months, it was too much to ask for.

The equation came down to six off the last two balls. The fans inside the stadiums, as well as across the world, were well aware of the fact that the man, who was on strike, took his team across the finishing line from similar kinds of positions on uncountable occasions. The fear was there in Rohit Sharma, who pulled his cap over his eyes after two audacious shots.

And he did not disappoint. He picked up Unadkat’s low full toss this time and whipped it past short fine leg for four. A sea of spectators at the stadium, who were mostly cheering for the MI, were left stunned.

Considering his poor run of form in the past two editions, many had criticized CSK’s decision of retaining Dhoni at INR 12 crore ahead of the latest IPL mega auction. His 200 runs came at a questionable strike rate of 116.27 in IPL 2020, and his struggle with the bat to get the timing right was quite visible in IPL 2021, where he only managed to aggregate 114 at 106.54, averaging 16.28. Despite leading the franchise to the title for the fourth time, his presence at the crease seemed to not trouble the oppositions anymore.

The move left many in disbelief and many in wild predictions. Some of them had thought if Dhoni struggled to get rhythm in IPL 2022, he could be benched for the rest of the season, and perhaps forever. But Dhoni’s reply was way cooler than his passionate fans could have ever imagined. 

He started off with a 50 not out off 38 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to revive CSK from 61/5. The next match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) saw Dhoni playing a breezy cameo of an unbeaten six-ball 16. He struggled to accelerate against Punjab Kings (PBKS), scoring 23 off 28 balls, and then departed cheaply against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He did not get a chance to bat in the next two games, against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) respectively before setting the stage on fire against the MI.

Even on the wrong side of 40, Dhoni can be a sensation at the crease. He is still able to anticipate the balls and can adapt in a quick time. “…Dhoni’s biggest strength has been that despite being a paradox to the rest of the world, he’s always known exactly who he is. Perhaps that’s why he’s never cared much about what the world has to say about him,” Bharat Sundaresan rightly wrote in his book The Dhoni Touch. Those who had felt that Dhoni is finished better reconsider their thoughts.