Xtra Time Web Desk: Michael Hussey recalled a rare incident when Mahendra Singh Dhoni celebrated intensely after his heroics against Punjab back in the IPL 2010. With a place in the playoffs on the line, Dhoni showed immense calmness and helped Chennai beat Punjab by 6 wickets at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala.
Needing 16 runs to win off the last over, Dhoni and CSK were under immense pressure to win the match and end the league stage inside the top four. In the first ball of the over from Irfan Pathan, Dhoni pulled off a four off a yorker through the long off region. In the second ball, Dhoni took a single and brought the target down to 10 runs off 4 balls.
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With the match in the balance, Dhoni used the long handle to good effect and smashed Pathan for back-to-back sixes down the ground. On the back of his knock, CSK went through to the palyoffs and eventually went on to win the title for the first time after initially finishing as the runners-up back in 2008. Dhoni won the Player of the Match award for scoring 54 runs off 29 balls.
“I do remember that game vividly. We were fifth on the table coming into the match. We needed to win that last match to get into the playoffs, to make fourth position. And we were struggling in the match. And MS Dhoni came in and made 50 runs off 20 odd balls to win the game, but he needed two sixes from the last two balls off Irfan Pathan, I think,” Hussey told R Ashwin on the latter’s YouTube channel.
“And sure enough, it’s probably one of the most emotional moments I’ve seen from him. When he hit that second ball for six, he was punching his helmet with excitement. It was an amazing feeling. Just being able to be there and witness it,” Hussey said.
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After beating Punjab, CSK defeated the now defunct Deccan Chargers by 38 runs in the semi-final. In the final, Chennai beat Bengaluru by 22 runs at the DY Patil Stadium.
“But then what followed that was unbelievable as well. We took so much momentum from that into the playoffs and eventually won the tournament. And it just goes to show you, he was in that situation again where the game was on the line. And it’s amazing how often he was able to deliver and deliver victory for the team. So, yeah, what a player,” Hussey added.
Since then, Dhoni has helped CSK make a name for themselves by winning 5 titles in the IPL. Chennai are also the defending champions and look like a strong contender to win IPL 2024