An intense game: Dhoni's vintage finishing leads CSK's win!

Indian Premier League 2022’s Match 33 had two of the most phenomenal teams – Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, compete against each other to survive the IPL elimination at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. 

Chennai Super Kings won the toss and opted to field. Mumbai Indians showcased two of their debutants today- Hrithik Shokeen and Riley Meredith. Shokeen plays as a spinner and might be on the line as a replacement for Murugan Ashwin. 

Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan were at the crease and Mukesh Choudhary started with the ball for CSK. Chennai got off to an amazing start as Mitchell Santer made a comeback on the side, taking an easy catch, while Mukesh Choudhary lived up to his reputation of taking the big wickets and got Rohit. The balling seemed to deceive Rohit’s calculation and resulted in a touch early in the stroke. Rohit Sharma seemed to have created a habit of having the most ducks in the history of IPL. Choudhary is on a roll today as he leads Mumbai inro losing both of their openers for a duck. The first over did not seem favourable for Mumbai as they stood on 2/2 after 0.5 overs. Suryakumar Yadav brings back some hope as he starts with a beautiful boundary shot and another to get off the mark. MI stands at 6/1 after 1 over.

A huge let off for Yadav as Dhoni missed stumping while Jadeja dropped a catch. Mitchell Santer bowls to Dewald Brevis  towards the end of the over and Jadeja puts down one he would take 9 times out of 10. Mumbai stood on 14/2 after the 3rd over. Mukesh Choudhary attempted to take the 4th wicket but slips while Tilak Varma tries to push his luck and goes off the outside edge into the hands of Bravo but he ends up spilling it. Suryakumar Yadav seems to be in a good zone as he looks to counterattack and slams a beautiful shot, it was a full on off and he gets low quickly to sweep it over deep backward square leg for a maximum. MI ends up with 42/3 after 6 overs. Mumbai Indians put up a good fight as Hrithik Shokeen hits a boundary along with Tilak Verma’s beautiful shot against Jadeja. Mumbai made a comeback after the first staggering over and stood at 84/4 by the end of the 13th over. Kieron Pollard joins the trail and hits a six and attacks against Theekshana. Mumbai rocket their score to a 100/5 after 15 overs. Theekshana counterattacks and makes Pollard’s attempt to clear the boundary a fail but Pollard returns the same and scores a solid 14 runs. Mumbai ends their 20 overs with 155/7.

Despite Chennai’s strong start, Mumbai Indians competed well and gained a good score. CSK starts their chase with their target of 156. They compete against a ‘straight hit’ fielding, something that is not very common in top level cricket. MS Dhoni placed Shivam Dube against Pollard. It was a bait for Pollard- he had warmed up in the previous over  long on against Maheesh and this time he pulled back the length a bit. The ball got to the toe end of the bat, travelled high and dropped safely in the hands of Dube, who hardly moved. 

Mitchell Santer departs as Jaydev Unadkat takes the catch, much to Daniel Sam’s delight. Santer ended at 11 off 9 balls and Chennai stood at 16/2 after 2.3 overs. Rayudu showed good timing against Bumrah with a six. He hits it over backward square leg and gets a maximum. Uthappa proceeds to hit a huge six and hits it down the ground for a six against Shokeen. Chennai went all out and stood at 57/2 by 8 overs. Much to debutant Hrittik’s disappointment, he thought he had his first IPL wicket in his first over but failed. Rayudu started the over with a six against Daniel Sams and has a release shot, but Sams gets Shivam’s wicket. CSK on 88/4 after 12.5 overs, slowing their speed. Dwaine Pretorius flicks a beautiful shot and gets a six against Unadkat. CSK gains back hope as the game proceeds and Dhoni adds to the flavour with a boundary. Pretorius hits a boundary against Bumrah, scoops it again and gets another four. CSK looked strong after 19 overs with 139/6. 

MS Dhoni turns the game in favour of Chennai as he brings back his brilliant play as the team needed only a 10 in three after he hits a six and hold and behold, he finishes off gloriously with a direct four! Dhoni turned back time, sprinted for two on the previous ball, took the onus onto him and finished it off. 

Chennai wins it on the last ball by 3 wickets with Dhoni’s beautiful vintage plays, turning the game into the teams’ favour and changes the course of endings!

A close, nail biting match for both the teams as well as the audience. It was an intense match between the strongest teams, we are surely bracing for more nerve wracking action!