It was during the IPL seven summers ago that Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave one of the finest displays ever in the history of the Indian Premier League. This was one memorable match of IPL 2018 as Chennai Super Kings took on their most fearsome rivals Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. It was a most special game, though, as Dhoni looked to be returning to his best form and dominated with a fabulous innings of 70 runs off just 34 balls.
It was a great moment of pressure when CSK had to chase a mammoth score of 206 runs. At this time, many were doubting Dhoni’s abilities and whether he still had it in his tank to inspire his team. But he answered those charges with resounding thwacks of the RCB bowlers across the park, smashing seven sixes in his innings. Coming into bat at a very crucial juncture when CSK was at 74 runs for the loss of four wickets in only the ninth over, stood Dhoni there.
Dhoni paired well with Ambati Rayudu, who also played really well, scoring 82 runs at a strike rate of 53 balls. They built very solid partnerships in the innings, resulting in some containment. Thereafter, Dwayne Bravo joined Dhoni for some really savage, hearty fireworks in the last stages of the match.
One of the most iconic moments in that match came when three runs were needed by RCB from the last three balls, and Dhoni was facing up with Corey Anderson. In the classic Dhoni manner, he perfectly timed the shot, anticipating the yorker, and smashed it into a mammoth six that left the fans wild. A moment that cricket fans still rave about and fondly remember.
That was probably Dhoni’s and CSK’s best moment after coming back from a two-year ban from the league. In all, Dhoni had an excellent 2018 WI season where he amassed a total of 455 runs in his 9 matches at a staggering strike rate of 150.66 and at an outstanding average of 75.83 as he led his team to the title. CSK ended up securing the second position on the total points table by winning nine out of their fourteen matches. They qualified for the final by defeating the defending champions, Sunrisers Hyderabad, in Qualifier 1 and got their championship in the finals played in Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium.
Dhoni’s performances in that season were above just numbers; it was a reminder of his extraordinary talent and mind, reaffirming why he would continue to be a celebrated figure in cricket history.
