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3 Times MS Dhoni Missed To Strike A Last Ball Six To Win An IPL Match

Here are three times Dhoni missed to knock a last-ball six to win an IPL thriller.

On Wednesday, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by three runs in an absolute thriller at the Chepauk Stadium (April 12). RR now leads the 2023 IPL points standings, while CSK is sixth.

The visitors were headed by Jos Buttler (52) with contributions from Shimron Hetmyer, Devdutt Padikkal, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Ravindra Jadeja was the standout bowler, taking 2/21 in 4 overs.

CSK responded by having Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Dhoni, and Jadeja all contribute crucial contributions at various periods of the game. That did not, however, prove to be sufficient. Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal each took two wickets to prevent the hosts from running away with the game.

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On that point, here are three times Dhoni missed to knock a last-ball six to win an IPL thriller.

1 CSK v RR, Chepauk 2023

MS Dhoni stepped out to bat with the team needing 63 runs in 30 balls and four wickets in hand. At that point, his partner, Ravindra Jadeja, had barely faced two balls.

The pair chose not to target the Rajasthan Royals’ spinners until the 17th over, scoring only 9 runs in the two overs. Dhoni then struck Adam Zampa for four and six runs in the 18th over, as CSK scored 14 runs.

CSK now needed 40 runs in two overs against the RR fast bowlers. Jadeja got in on the act, blasting four and two sixes to put the aim within reach in the final over.

In the 20th over, Dhoni smashed two sixes off Sandeep Sharma, reducing the equation to seven runs off three balls. Sandeep, on the other hand, delivered two magnificent yorkers, and the former Indian captain could only take a single off the final ball when six runs were required. He concluded with a magnificent 32* from only 17 balls.

CSK v RCB, Chinnaswamy 2019

MS Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) supporters recall the 2019 game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy stadium as one of his best performances in a losing cause.

RCB batted first and scored 161/7, led by Parthiv Patel’s vital 53 off 37 deliveries. Moeen Ali also contributed with a crucial 26 off 16 deliveries. Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, and Deepak Chahar each claimed two wickets, limiting RCB to a low score.

CSK lost early wickets in their pursuit and were reduced to 28/4 at the end of the powerplay. The onus was therefore on the skipper to pull off something extraordinary, and he did it with a superbly measured knock in a challenging run-chase.

CSK needed 26 off the final over, with no other recognised hitter remaining but Dhoni. Dhoni hit Umesh Yadav for three sixes and a four in the first five deliveries, reducing the equation to two runs off the penultimate ball. He missed to strike the ball on the penultimate delivery and instead sprinted for a bye. Nevertheless, Shardul Thakur was run out by a direct hit from Parthiv Patel, leaving CSK behind by just one run.

#3 RPS v SRH, Vizag 2016

Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) had to chase down 138 runs in 2016 on a Vizag track that favoured spinners. Adam Zampa finished with 6/19 in four overs as no SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) batsman could get going.The only players to reach 30 in the first innings were Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson.

It was also a difficult task for RPS hitters.George Bailey struggled to 34 runs off 40 balls, while Ashwin hit 29 off 25 balls. Dhoni came in to bat with the team needing 60 runs off 40 balls, and the necessary run rate had risen to 11.5 at the conclusion of the 16th over.

Mustafizur Rahman allowed only 13 runs in his last two overs, leaving Ashish Nehra with 14 runs to bowl. When the equation came down to 12 off 3, Dhoni smacked a six. He was run out on the penultimate delivery, though, when he attempted to take a double. Despite the captain’s 30 off 20 balls and Thisara Perera’s 17 off 13 balls, RPS lost by four runs.

Also Read:CSK vs RR, IPL 2023: Match Details, Probable 11, Pitch Report, Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips And Live Streaming Details (cricfiles.com)

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