Dhoni still growing in stature
CHENNAI FANS BELIEVE DHONI’S FORM SIMILAR TO THAT WHEN HE SPORTED LONG-HAIR LOOK
Chennai Super Kings fans would love to see star batsman go back to his roots after another stellar IPL showing |
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was at his best on Monday night against Delhi Daredevils, hitting an unbeaten 51 off just 22 balls to ensure his team a 13-run victory at the Maharashtra Cricket Association ground in Pune.
After the knock, fans believe the Chennai Super Kings captain’s present form is similar to that when he sported his famous long-hair look.
Many now want Dhoni to grow his hair. Some tweeted: “The old Dhoni is back. All that is missing is the long hair.”
Dhoni’s half century off 22 balls is his second quickest in the Indian Premier League.
Opener Shane Watson, who top scored for Chennai with a knock of 78 to be named man of the match, hailed Dhoni saying: “MS (Dhoni) is hitting the ball as well as he ever has.”
Dhoni’s supporters want him to finish off as the most prolific scorer of this edition’s IPL as they feel Dhoni is playing like he was a decade ago. Dhoni has scored 286 runs from only eight matches at a strike rate of 169.23 this season. He has cracked three half-centuries including against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Dhoni was cheered by his wife Sakshi Dhoni and daughter Ziva when scoring his quick-fire knock. A video posted by him on Instagram of his daughter wanting to give him a hug during the innings has also gone viral.
Dhoni who is battling back pain, admitted he was in discomfort. “Back is bad, but nothing much can be done. Because there is no rest period. I have not been training much because of it. There is a bit of pain, but I think I will manage,” he said.
du Plessis’ praise
Dhoni’s teammate and South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis, praised his knock, saying: “He is in great form at the moment and it’s extremely tough to bowl to him when he is in form like that because he has got such a big arch and if you want to bowl wide he can still hit you to leg side. So he has got lot of options and it makes life difficult for bowlers to plan and bowl to him. It is also tough for the captain to set a field for him as he can hit any ball to wherever he wants to.”
Dhoni is keen his team remains on top in the IPL as they have won six matches out of the eight played so far, but wants his bowlers to improve. “It helps if you are winning and learning. Death bowling hasn’t been good, and if we reach the finals, which will be held in small grounds, the margin for error is very small. Bowlers have to adapt, otherwise we will have to look at other options. Overall, we are a happy side and the mood is good,” he said.
Back is bad, but nothing much can be done. Because there is no rest period. I have not been training much because of it. There is a bit of pain, but I think I will manage.” Mahendra Singh Dhoni » Chennai Super Kings captain