Former Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni is regarded as one of the greatest white-ball players to have played the game. Known for his genuis captaincy and batting prowess, Dhoni has led India and CSK to a number of titles and has finished a number of games both at the international level and in the IPL.
For his immense success as a middle-order batter, MS Dhoni is hailed as the most fearsome, and the best finisher in IPL cricket.
Here are three reasons why:
- His statistics in the death overs
While batting in the death overs – which are the last four overs of the innings – Dhoni has a strike rate of 188 and an average of 36.29, which is among the best for any batsman with a sizeable amount of innings.
Thala finishes off in style
#DCvCSK #WhistlePodu #Yellove
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) October 10, 2021
Dhoni becomes a beast in the 20th over of the innings: in the last over of the innings, he hammers at a strike rate of 246 and has an average of 30. To think, in the IPL, Dhoni has batted 144 times, out of which he’s been dismissed 68 times, meaning that about half the times he’s seen off his side till the end.
- Dhoni chooses his bowlers
Dhoni knows he’s got the power, the shots to tee off against any bowler in the world. But he chooses his bowlers. It’s like he’s playing chess, muddling with the opposition captain’s mind.
His latest exploit and addition to the last over finish, versus Mumbai Indians, perhaps typifies his approach while chasing a target. With 48 runs required off the last two overs, and pressure mounting, Dhoni decided to play out Bumrah‘s 17th over for just 6 runs, and his 19th over asking Pretorius to play his shots, which he did and both took 11 runs.
Oh Thala, Our Thala!
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) October 10, 2021
Whatttt A Game! 
Dhoni unleashed himself on Unadkat, not only a weaker bowler than Bumrah, but also someone who he’s in the past hit runs. 14 runs came of the 18th over and then the final over was Dhoni’s territory, as he struck 16 runs which were required off the last four balls.
- Incredible calmness and ability to absorb the pressure
All this is possible because MS Dhoni has the calmest mind in world cricket. The ability to absorb the pressure of the run rate, his own dot ball that is part of his approach, is second to none. His infinitely unbelievable self-confidence, the trust in his approach is what emboldens him to bat the way only he does – and finish the way only he does.
Also Read: IPL 2022: An Open Letter To Virat Kohli
