Chennai Super Kings (CSK) put up a tough fight in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at home in Chennai on Thursday. CSK skipper MS Dhoni fought valiantly, scoring 32 off 17 balls, but his effort was not enough to take the home team across the line.
With 21 runs needed for victory in the final over bowled by Sandeep Sharma, Dhoni – in his 200th match as CSK captain – raised hopes of an unlikely victory, hitting sixes off the second and third deliveries of the over. With 7 runs required off 3 balls, Dhoni pulled a single towards mid-wicket and two runs should have been easy to retain the strike but the former India skipper could not get back for the second run and was clearly out. Struggling with his fitness. ,
The last two balls of the match also resulted in singles as Sandeep Sharma managed to defend Sanju Samson’s target for the Royals. CSK head coach Stephen Fleming later revealed in the post-match press conference that Dhoni has joined CSK’s injury list along with Ben Stokes and Deepak Chahar.
Fleming said of MS Dhoni after the game, “He is carrying a knee injury, which you can see in some of his movement, which is hampering him to some extent.” But still what you saw today he is a great player for us. His fitness has always been very professional.”
Dhoni has been managing this troubling knee since the start of IPL 2023 As there were doubts over his participation in the opener against Gujarat Titans as well. Fleming lauded the CSK skipper’s ability to manage his fitness.
“He comes a month before the tournament starts, so he doesn’t get a chance to do much (before that),” Fleming said.
Dhoni’s left and right sixes,
His form this season is off the charts! ,congrats to the legend @M S Dhoni To complete 200 matches in IPL ___@ChennaiIPL #CSKvsRR #thala #Dhoni #RPSwing pic.twitter.com/GJye0JsW4D— RP Singh _____ ______ ____ (@rpsingh) April 12, 2023
“He will be fit, he will do some netting in Ranchi, but his main pre-season (fitness) is done a month before he comes to Chennai. And he works to get back into match form and I think you can still see that he is playing quite well. So we never have any doubts about the way he manages himself and he always paces himself,” said the CSK head coach.
Meanwhile, CSK also have the services of Sisanda Magala for a couple of weeks during their match against the Royals on Wednesday night. Magala had joined the squad as a replacement for Kyle Jamieson, who has been ruled out for the entire season.
Fleming also pointed out that Deepak Chahar, who bowled just one over against Mumbai Indians in last week’s match, will also need two to three weeks to recover from a hamstring injury before he can return to action.