With CSK defending a modest total of 162, the final over saw Dhoni face Arshdeep Singh’s bowling. On the third delivery, Dhoni mistimed a lofted stroke towards deep extra cover, prompting his batting partner, Daryl Mitchell, to scamper for a single. However, in a move that defied cricketing logic, Dhoni gestured for Mitchell to return, denying him the strike despite the New Zealander being well-set at the non-striker’s end.
Ms Dhoni denied the single to Daryl Mitchell,the kind of form he is having he should asked to stay on non striker end for the rest of the season _
Mitchell bro,Let Dhoni bat in this season. You will get many more seasons to bat but not sure about Dhoni pic.twitter.com/yy3JFxA7Yv
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) May 1, 2024
Criticism from Cricket Pundits
Dhoni’s decision drew immediate criticism from various quarters, with former cricketer Aakash Chopra leading the charge. “In the end, Dhoni even refused to take a single. It’s fine, but Daryl Mitchell is Daryl Mitchell. You were not batting with Mustafizur, no disrespect, but he refused,” Chopra said, questioning Dhoni’s judgment.
Irfan Pathan, another prominent voice in the cricket fraternity, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “He shouldn’t have done that (refusing a single). This is a team game. Don’t do that in a team game. The other guy [Daryl Mitchell] is also an international player. If he had been a bowler, I would have understood it for sure.”
The Dhoni Paradox
Dhoni’s penchant for late heroics is well-documented, but his recent struggles against spin bowling have raised eyebrows. Pathan acknowledged this aspect, saying, “He (Dhoni) has been unable to score runs against spinners in the last few years, which is why he is bringing himself down the order. He is scoring runs in the last over when the fast bowlers are thinking of bowling yorkers.”
The Decision’s Consequences
While Dhoni did manage to clear the boundary on the penultimate delivery, his eventual dismissal on the final ball for a hard-fought 14 off 11 deliveries left CSK short of a formidable total. Mitchell, denied the opportunity to face the remaining deliveries, remained stranded on 1 not out.
PBKS’ Tactical Masterclass
Pathan commended PBKS skipper Sam Curran’s shrewd captaincy, highlighting the decision to introduce spinner Rahul Chahar in the 19th over as a masterstroke. “Curran getting a spinner to bowl the 19th over was a masterstroke because considering the form MS Dhoni is in, he could have taken the game way forward in those two overs. He could have scored 30 runs in two overs, but they didn’t allow him to do that,” Pathan observed.
The Final Result
Despite Dhoni’s late cameo, PBKS chased down the target with relative ease, thanks to contributions from Jonny Bairstow (46 off 30) and Rilee Rossouw (43 off 23). The seven-wicket victory left CSK precariously placed in fourth spot, with 10 points from 10 matches, adding pressure on the team to win their remaining fixtures to secure a playoff berth.
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