Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored an unbeaten 50 runs off 38 balls to help Chennai Super Kings post a respectable total of 131/5 batting first in the Indian Premier League opener against Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday.
Dhoni got together with CSK skipper Ravindra Jadeja (26* off 28) to stage a recovery at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The former captain was batting on 15 off 25 but brought out the fireworks eventually to hit 35 runs off the last 13 deliveries of his innings. He hit seven fours and a six in his knock.
IPL 2022: Ajinkya Rahane, Umesh Yadav power KKR to 6-wicket win over CSK in opener
Here are some reactions to his knock:
#IPL2022 #CSKvKKR
— The Field (@thefield_in) March 26, 2022
MS Dhoni received a special welcome to the crease at the Wankhede tonight and he returned the favour with a special knock 🙌🏽
📹: IPLpic.twitter.com/L6jL7Udn8w
Well played by @msdhoni.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 26, 2022
He started slowly but used his experience and a combination of composure, aggression and common sense to get @ChennaiIPL to where they are.
Their bowlers will have to bowl exceedingly well to defend the total on this pitch. #CSKvKKR pic.twitter.com/BmfKRyDJOd
MS Dhoni last 13 balls - 35 runs
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) March 26, 2022
4,1,4,0,4,1,4,6,0,2,4,4,1#CSKvKKR
MS Dhoni at the end of the 17th over: 15*(25)
— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) March 26, 2022
Dhoni at the end of the 20th over: 50*(38)
35 runs off just 13 deliveries in the last three overs.#CSKvKKR | #IPL2022
Dhoni 🙇♂️ #IPL2022 #CricketTwitter #CSKvKKR
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 26, 2022
Oldest Indian to score an IPL fifty:
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) March 26, 2022
40y 262d - MS Dhoni v KKR, today
40y 116d - Rahul Dravid v DC, 2013
39y 362d - Sachin Tendulkar v DC, 2013#IPL2022 #CSKvKKR
That was brilliant inning from Dhoni. Not easy not playing thru out the year and produce the inning like this!
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 26, 2022
MSD Thala.! 🔥#WhistlePodu #Yellove #CSKvKKR 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/H3FQj9oxlE
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 26, 2022
Something so special about watching MS Dhoni crack crisp boundaries... Maybe it's nostalgia or conditioning, but it feels inexplicably good to see him score runs so coolly.#IPL2022 #CSKvKKR
— Zenia D'cunha (@ZENIADCUNHA) March 26, 2022
What a brilliant knock by @msdhoni to give partial recovery for @ChennaiIPL but I fear that it won't be enough to stop @KKRiders in this game! #MSDhoni𓃵 #CSKvKKR #KKRvsCSK
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) March 26, 2022
Dial 7 for rescue. 😄
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 26, 2022
MSD>>>>>
— Riyan Paragg (@ParagRiyan) March 26, 2022
Also get ready to see everyone rep orange keeping gloves from now on xx #IPL #CSKvKKR
MS Dhoni has scored a fifty in IPL after 28 innings.
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) March 26, 2022
The last time before today he scored a fifty in IPL was against RCB at Bangalore in 2019.#CSKvKKR
Textbook MS Dhoni innings. While unable to attack the quality spinners, the situation gave Dhoni license to wait for the more hittable quicks at the death, and he has been ruthless. 12 off his first 20 balls; 38 from his next 18. #IPL2022 #CSKvKKR
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) March 26, 2022
Top stuff.. picture abhi baaki hai @msdhoni @ChennaiIPL @IPL
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) March 26, 2022
MS Dhoni tonight: #CSKvKKR #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/9ULnPyxrne
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 26, 2022