MS Dhoni and Chennai is one love affair that is unprecedented in Indian cricket. The Ranchi-born legend is worshipped like a superstar in Chennai, courtesy his performance for IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings . So, when Dhoni came to bat for CSK against Lucknow Super Giants in the side’s first home match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 on Monday, the crowd went wild. That it was Dhoni’s and CSK’s first match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium after over three years, made the occasion even more special. To top it all, Dhoni arrived to bat in the 20th over and hit a huge six off the first ball that he faced against Mark Wood. He hit a six off the next ball he faced too. With it, Dhoni became the seventh player in IPL to complete 5,000 runs. Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and AB de Villiers are the other members of the elite club.
Watch: MS Dhoni Hits First-Ball Six On Return To Chepauk, Sends Crowd Into Frenzy
A treat for the Chennai crowd! @msdhoni is BACK in Chennai & how #TATAIPL | #CSKvLSG
WATCH his incredible two sixes pic.twitter.com/YFkOGqsFVT
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 3, 2023
Taking about the match, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway and Moeen Ali starred for Chennai Super Kings to help the team post a 12-run win over Lucknow Super Giants at their fortress — the M A Chidambaram stadium — in their opening home match of the ongoing IPL here on Monday.
Gaikwad slammed his second successive fifty and shared 110 runs for the opening wicket with Conway (47 off 29) as CSK posted a commanding 217 for 7 after being sent into bat.
Gaikwad, after his 92 in the opening game, smashed 57 off 31 with three fours and four sixes. Conway, who hit five boundaries and two hits over the fence, gave him good support.
And then Moeen Ali returned with fine figures of 4 for 26 from his overs to help CSK restict LSG to 205 for seven.
Late hitting by Nicholas Pooran (32 off 18 balls, 2x4s, 3x6s) and a furious opening assault by his fellow West Indian Kyle Mayers (53 off 22 balls, 8x4s, 2x6s) went in vain for LSG.
With PTI inputs
Topics mentioned in this article
