IPL: MS Dhoni adopts ‘see ball, hit ball’ strategy in vintage finish in Qualifier 1
MS Dhoni beat Ravindra Jadeja in a critical situation in the 19th IPL 2021 qualifier 1 against Delhi Capitals on Sunday and showed signs of her vintage self by winning the match with 6 balls 18.
Dhoni took a bold call as he had been struggling before Sunday, failing to connect as regularly as he did in his heydays but he delivered on the big night for CSK who reached their 9th IPL final.
Shedding light on his bold call and the knock that set social media on fire, MS Dhoni said he did not think much but wanted to get the feeling of not having it done with the bat out of his system. Dhoni said all he wanted to do was watch the ball and hit the ball in the last 2 overs of a tense chase of 173 runs.
MS Dhoni began his innings with a huge six over mid-wicket against Avesh Khan but played out two dot balls in the 19th over. With 13 needed off the last over, CSK lost Moeen Ali in the first delivery of Tom Curran’s over but Dhoni connected as many as three boundaries and hit the winning runs in style.
“It was a crucial innings. They were using the bigger boundary very well. Nothing special, just watch the ball and hit the ball. I haven’t done a lot in the tournament. So you want to get that out of the system,” MS Dhoni said on Sunday.
“If you are batting well in the nets, just look for the ball, what are the variations, where the bowler could bowl. Other than that there was nothing much in the mind. If there are too many things floating around, it becomes difficult to watch the ball.”
Credit goes to entire team for turnaround: Dhoni
Meanwhile, MS Dhoni stressed once again that it was tough for CSK to not qualify for the play-offs of IPL 2020. CSK were eliminated from the play-offs race in the UAE last year as they missed the final 4 for the first time in there history.
However, MS Dhoni walked the talk as CSK roared back into form and became the first team to qualify for the play-offs. Despite losing 3 matches on the trot before the play-offs, CSK used all their experience to beat Delhi Capitals to reach the final of IPL 2021 in the direct route.
“It’s the full team (Credit for the turnaround). It was tough when we didn’t qualify last time. Emotions were high. Credit goes to the support staff and everyone in the team,” Dhoni added.
Delhi Capitals rode on a quickfire 60 from Prithvi Shaw and a fine 51 not out from captain Rishabh Pant to post 172 in Dubai. They got off to a great start with the ball as Anrich Nortje knocked over Faf du Plessis as early as the firs over.
However, Robin Uthappa turned back the clock and took on the Delhi Capitals bowling attack, hitting a 44-ball 63 as he stitched a 110-run stand with Ruturaj Gaikwad who hit 50-ball 70.
Dhoni on sending Shardul Thakur at No. 4
CSK sent Shardul Thakur at No. 4 but the move did not pay off as he got out for a first-ball duck. CSK went from 113 for 1 to 119 for 4 but MS Dhoni came up with the finishing touches.
“We are one side that hasn’t done that a lot (about not sending pinch-hitters higher). Even with Deepak we bat till 9. With the way Shardul has been batting recently or even Deepak, both can contribute.
“When a batsman goes in, he will think twice before hitting the first ball for a boundary, but if a Shardul or a Deepak goes in, they can look to get a boundary from the first ball. And even they get one or two hits away, it could be a big impact because the run difference is only 15-20 runs,” Dhoni added.
CSK will wait for the second team to make the final, which is scheduling on October 15. Delhi Capitals will take on the winner of Eliminator between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday in Qualifier 2.
