Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni once again proved to the world why he’s the master tactician and one of the best ever in understanding the opposition players’ strengths and weaknesses.
On Tuesday, in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2023, MS Dhoni outsmarted the opposition captain, Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya in the big-ticket encounter in Chepauk.
In the chase of 173, Gujarat Titans’ skipper Pandya came in to bat at the start of the fourth over, at number 3. Pandya started off cautiously with 7 runs off 7 balls on a tacky, spin-friendly surface. He then fell off the next ball of Maheesh Theekshana, cutting the off-spinner but not worried about keeping in the air, and handing Ravindra Jadeja the simplest of catches at point.
MS Dhoni’s masterplan to Hardik Pandya came just moments before he was dismissed.
Before the wicket ball, Dhoni moved Jadeja from the square leg position to the point position. And Pandya hit the ball straight there. Theekshana was pumped up. Dhoni too would have been, but he didn’t show any emotions.
The commentators were left amazed and astonished and hailed MS Dhoni’s clever tactic to get rid of the GT skipper.
WATCH: How Dhoni and Theekshana planned Hardik’s dismissal
👀 Dhoni moved a fielder to the off-side a ball prior to Hardik getting dismissed! #GTvCSK #TATAIPL #Qualifier1 #IPLonJioCinema pic.twitter.com/oJow2Vp2rj
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) May 23, 2023
Meanwhile, CSK has posted a big total of 172 on the board riding on Gaikwad’s 60.
Earlier, Hardik had won the toss and elected to field first.
Teams:
Gujarat Titans (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Hardik Pandya(c), Dasun Shanaka, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Darshan Nalkande, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Mohammed Shami
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhoni(w/c), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana
Chennai Super Kings Subs: Matheesha Pathirana, Mitchell Santner, Subhranshu Senapati, Shaik Rasheed, Akash Singh.
Gujarat Titans Subs: Vijay Shankar, Srikar Bharat, Sai Sudharsan, Jayant Yadav, Shivam Mavi.
