MS Dhoni, the former captain of the Chennai Super Kings, has long been regarded as one of cricket’s best minds, and on Thursday, the veteran wicket-keeper batsman demonstrated why he is still at the top of his game.
Kieron Pollard was unable to make an impression against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and it was MS Dhoni’s masterstroke that stopped him on Thursday. Pollard was undone by the former CSK captain’s decision to deploy a fielder just behind the bowler in the deep.
MS Dhoni sets up field for Kieron Pollard’s wicket
When Kieron Pollard took the field against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Thursday, all eyes were on him. The Caribbean all-rounder was expected to regain his hitting mojo a day after calling it quits on his 15-year international career.
The Mumbai Indians fans were hoping for a Pollard special at the DY Patil Stadium after the way his innings started. But, to everyone’s surprise, he only scored 14 runs off 9 deliveries. Tilak Varma and Kieron Pollard were about to open their arms at the end of the innings when Dhoni utilized his smart cricketing intellect to dismiss the West Indian.
When Maheesh Teekshana came into the attack in the 17th over, this incident occurred. Dhoni was well aware that Pollard would target the Sri Lankan spinner, as he had done in his previous over, belting a six over long-on.
As a result, Dhoni altered the field and placed a man near the long-on boundary but a little straighter. To everyone’s amazement, the tactic succeeded, and Pollard finished with 14 runs off 9 balls. Pollard tried to go aerial but was caught by Shivam Dube at long-on after Theekshana delivered a flattish carrom ball. As soon as the MI batsman was dismissed, Dhoni fans flooded social media with appreciation for their favourite cricketer.
Earlier CSK skipper Ravindra Jadeja won the toss and chose to bat first. The five-time champions experienced a batting collapse, losing openers Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma on ducks in the first over alone, and continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.
