Dhoni: Good to return after two years and win
Chennai draft in England all-rounder Willey for injured Jadhav
The stage was set for an emotional return of Chennai Super Kings to their lair at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium after two years, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men made it sweeter with a thrilling five-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL XI on Tuesday night.
“It feels good, to come back after two years and win,” Dhoni said as a sea of yellow-clad supporters cheered the team after they overhauled a 200-plus target.
Dhoni was his usual self as he guided the team’s chase alongside Sam Billings, who scored a strokeful half-century in response to the big hits of KKR’s West Indian Andre Russell. The West Indian hammered a 36-ball 88 to propel his team beyond the 200-run mark.
CSK hit a total of 14 sixes in the match, but could not match up to the 17 by KKR, of which 11 alone was hit by Russell. “There were a lot of sixes. I think IPL should add two runs every time the ball goes out of the stadium,” Dhoni said in jest at the post-match presentation.
“The crowd deserved the first innings, the second innings,” he said. “Everybody has his own emotion levels, but in the dugout we like to keep faith in our batsmen or bowler in a particular time. Positive energy helps.”
Dressing room mood
He added: “My pulse rises too, and that’s why we have a dressing room. You can’t express yourself much in the dugout; I express myself in the dressing room. If you’re too expressive in the field, then commentators get a lot of things to talk about.”
The Mumbai Indians have won the IPL thrice, but CSK have been among the most consistent teams. They have won the competition twice in 2010 and 2011, but were losing finalists four times.
Needing 17 runs in the last over, Ravindra Jadeja 11 (not out) hit a six off R. Vinay Kumar with four runs and one ball remaining to see CSK home.