Chennai Super Kings (CSK) misplaced a hard-fought Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 conflict towards Rajasthan Royals (RR) at house in Chennai by three runs on Thursday. CSK skipper MS Dhoni fought valiantly, scoring 32 off 17 balls however his effort weren’t sufficient to take the house aspect throughout the road.
Needing 21 runs to win within the closing over bowled by Sandeep Sharma, Dhoni – in his two hundredth match as CSK skipper – raised the hopes of an unlikely win, smashing the second and third ball of the over for sixes. With 7 runs wanted off 3 balls, Dhoni dragged a ball in direction of mid-wicket and it ought to have been a simple two runs to retain the strike however the former Indian captain was unable to return again for the second run and was clearly struggling together with his health.
The final two balls of the match additionally resulted in singles as Sandeep Sharma managed to defend the goal for Sanju Samson’s Royals. CSK head coach Stephen Fleming later revealed within the post-match press convention that Dhoni has joined the CSK damage listing with Ben Stokes and Deepak Chahar as effectively.
“He is nursing a knee injury, which you can see in some of his movement, which is hindering him somewhat,” Fleming mentioned about MS Dhoni after the sport. “But still what you saw today is a great player for us. His fitness has always been very professional.”
Dhoni has been managing this troubled knee because the begin of IPL 2023 as there was doubt over his participation within the opener towards Gujarat Titans as effectively. Fleming was fast to laud the CSK skipper’s potential to handle his health.
“He comes a month before the tournament starts, so he doesn’t get the opportunity to do a lot (before that),” Fleming mentioned.
Dhoni’s smashing sixes left and proper,
His kind this season is simply out of sight! __Congratulations to the legend @msdhoni for finishing 200 matches within the IPL ___@ChennaiIPL #CSKvsRR #Thala #Dhoni #RPSwing pic.twitter.com/GJye0JsW4D
— R P Singh _____ ______ ____ (@rpsingh) April 12, 2023
“He will stay fit, they will do some netting in Ranchi, but his main pre-season (fitness) is done a month before when he comes to Chennai. And he works his way back into match-form and I think you can still see he’s playing pretty well. So we never have any doubts about the way he manages himself and he always gets himself up to speed,” the CSK head coach added.
Meanwhile, CSK have additionally the providers of Sisanda Magala for a few weeks at the least after splitting a webbing in his hand in the course of the match towards Royals on Wednesday night time. Magala had joined the aspect as alternative for Kyle Jamieson, who’s dominated out for all the season.
Fleming additionally knowledgeable that Deepak Chahar, who bowled only one over towards Mumbai Indians in final week’s match, earlier than pulling up with a hamstring damage will want two to 3 weeks to recuperate from damage as effectively.
