“For the first time in 15 seasons..” – Dhoni’s entry to sixes at Chepauk

Chennai: After winning the match against Lucknow by 12 runs, Chennai team tasted their first win of the current season.

After almost 1000 days (after 3 years) the match played by Chennai Super Kings at Chennai Stadium, the frenzy of CSK fans could be felt in the stadium right from the start. In particular, Dhoni Beaver looked a bit out of sorts in today’s match. Dhoni… Dhoni.

During the toss, Lucknow captain KL Rahul concluded his speech simply by saying, “If we know the target, it will be easier for us to approach the match.”

The next time Dhoni’s name was uttered, the stadium went into overdrive. Commentator Ian Bishop’s first question to Dhoni was about ‘CSK’s comeback to Chepauk’.

“IPL started in 2008. Even though 15 seasons have passed, only 6-7 seasons have been played in Chepauk. Some of the stands were empty. But this time the ground is completely full. It gives me joy and pride to play in such a ground surrounded by fans,” said Dhoni in response to Ian Bishop’s question. The fans’ whistles split the sky.

Ever since Ruduraj got out as the first wicket, the fans were expecting when Dhoni would come to play. The fans chanted Dhoni’s name with each wicket. But when Jadeja returned to the pavilion in the last over, the fans breathed a sigh of relief when Dhoni appeared on the screen.

Fans chanted for Dhoni to enter and turned on their mobile lights. To further cheer them on, Mark Wood sent the first 2 balls of the ball flying in the sky. He hit two sixes. Trying to hit a hat-trick six off the 3rd ball, Dhoni headed back to the pavilion as it got into the hands of Ravi Bishnoi. Even though Dhoni bowled only three balls, the fans in the stadium were standing in a standing ovation mode.

By scoring 12 runs in this match, Dhoni has crossed 5000 runs in IPL matches.