The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain KL Rahul revealed that his bowling unit felt intimidated facing MS Dhoni’s batting. This occurred during their IPL 2024 match versus Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 19th.
The LSG team easily beat CSK by eight wickets in match number 34 of IPL 2024. It happened at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. First, CSK batted and were struggling with half their team out for just 90 runs. However, the all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja scored 57 not out off 40 balls. Then MS Dhoni came to bat and hit a quick 28 not out in just 9 balls.
Lucknow Super Giants secured a convincing victory, finishing with an over remaining. However, KL Rahul acknowledged his inexperienced bowlers faced pressure when MS Dhoni strode to the crease during the 18th over’s latter stages. In the post-match presentation, the LSG captain remarked:
“I would have been happy with 160 (target). Behind the stumps, (I) felt like the wicket was a bit slow. There was a bit of grip, not too much. It wasn’t a square turner, but there was a bit of help for spinners and 160-165 would have been ideal. But again, it’s MSD. He walks in and the pressure gets to the bowlers. That’s the presence and intimidation he’s had over teams and oppositions and bowlers.
“We have a young team and this is the first time they were put under pressure by a huge figure like MS and the crowd was really really loud. But, I still thought they stuck to their plans. He’s a phenomenal player to still hit them for sixes. Yeah, 15-20 runs extra, but we knew that if we bat well we can chase it down.”
KL Rahul
MS Dhoni hit three fours and two sixes in his brief stint to propel CSK above the 175-run barrier. However, KL Rahul (82 off 53) led from the front in the chase, combining 134 for the first wicket with Quinton de Kock (54 off 43).
MS Dhoni turning back the clock in IPL 2024
After leading CSK to win their fifth IPL title in 2023, MS Dhoni had knee surgery. This made people wonder if he would play in the T20 league again this season.
While he has been in all seven of CSK’s matches thus far, what has been most impressive is his ability to strike the ball after retiring from international cricket in 2020.
In five innings, the 42-year-old has 87 runs batted in with a strike rate of 255.88. Prior to his exploits against LSG, the former CSK skipper scored 37* off 16 against Delhi Capitals and 20* off 4 against Mumbai Indians.