Axar Patel faced the brunt of MSD's willow.
It is not the first time and probably will not be the last time that Mahendra Singh Dhoni has finished a match in a dramatic fashion in the very last over by scoring a massive six. There is an element of inevitability in the entire proceedings yet one can't but help feel awed by the self-confidence and cool 'Mahi' keeps in himself.
Dhoni literally turned back the clock on Saturday at YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in the Rising Pune Supergiants last IPL match against Kings XI Punjab, when he scored 23 in the last over to save Pune the blushes. RPS would have had the distinction of getting the wooden spoon if not for Dhoni's super-heroic efforts. People got reminiscent about such previous last over prowess by Dhoni in Dharamshala in IPl 2010 against KXIP, in Sri Lanka during Celkon Cup Final in 2013 to name a few.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has received a lot of flak for not being able to finish matches for Rising Pune Supergiants this IPL 2016. On Saturday, he silenced everyone with a knock that will go down as one of the greatest match-winning innings single-handedly played by an IPL batsman.
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Dhoni finished with 64 runs scored at a strike rate of two runs every ball. From an improbable equation of 70 needed in the last five overs, Dhoni kept the faith that he can win it for RPS. With Sri Lankan Thisara Perera, Dhoni added 58 in 29 balls for the sixth wicket. When Perera was dismissed by Mohit Sharma in the first ball of the 19th over, RPS needed 29 in 11 balls. Dhoni let R Ashwin face only one ball. Mohit conceded only six runs in that over. Dhoni still maintained his calm. He took a single off the last ball to retain strike in the last over, off which 23 were needed.
A game that was in KXIP’s control for 39 overs, was lost in that one unforgettable over of Dhoni’s brilliance that was all about his confidence and self-belief. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel had to bear the brunt of Dhoni’s assault, three sixes and a four coming off India’s limited-overs captain’s blade.
In the last over, there were couple of dot balls but unperturbed Dhoni kept his calm and hit all the other balls to the boundary. Probably Axar Patel as the bowler was not the best strategic move, and Captain Cool took due advantage of it.
When the final 'helicopter' landed outside the ground, RPS players and fans looked delirious, even though the match was essentially a dead rubber. MS Dhoni though showed very little emotions. For him, it was just another normal day in the office. He will be disappointed with RPS finishing 7th out of 8 teams in IPL9, but MSD can take pride in seeing this innings long after he has hung up his boots.
Watch the video here:
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