MS Dhoni sent social media into frenzy on Monday night with a trademark performance that reminded fans why he remains one of the most beloved figures of cricket even after taking retirement from the international cricket. In a high-stakes encounter against Lucknow Super Giants, the Chennai Super Kings veteran not only turned back the clock with the bat but also played a pivotal role behind the stumps, sealing a much-needed win for his side.
Although the match was held at LSG’s home ground, the stands were colored in yellow, echoing Dhoni’s enduring popularity. From jerseys to banners, the crowd made no secret of who they came to see — and Dhoni didn’t disappoint. He was instrumental in removing three of LSG’s key batters, including their captain, and later produced a blistering cameo that saw him score 26 runs off just 11 balls. With four boundaries and a six, Dhoni guided CSK to a five-wicket victory, ending their five-match losing streak.
His innings which was equally composed and explosive quickly drew admiration across the cricketing world, with fans and former players flooding social media to hail the 43 years old cricketer’s performance. His return to the captaincy, following an injury to Ruturaj Gaikwad, has once again placed him at the forefront of CSK’s campaign.
Here are some selected reactions:
https://x.com/Pawangurjar_inc/status/1911845596438179939
https://x.com/KrisSrikkanth/status/1911843905152434649
https://x.com/RichKettle07/status/1911850379811442963
https://x.com/Riyaagrahari8/status/1911845174411505673
https://x.com/MohammadKaif/status/1911845534719201528
https://x.com/vurashashi/status/1911811774287880226
https://x.com/M_OfSarcasm/status/1911847862734065918
https://x.com/IrfanPathan/status/1911843820297220592
https://x.com/shilpasahu432/status/1911847059524645369
https://x.com/MusicThaman/status/1911843002676629748
https://x.com/xavierunclelite/status/1911838582870016231
https://x.com/tissavaasi06/status/1911847106651844811
Chasing 167 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Chennai sealed the win in the final over with three balls to spare. This was only their second victory of the season; however, it might prove to be a turning point. Despite sitting at the bottom of the table, the energy sparked by Dhoni’s return has brought fresh hope to the CSK camp.
They now look ahead to a highly anticipated clash with Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium this Sunday. It will be their second face-off of the season, with CSK having claimed the first encounter last month. As the league stage intensifies, all eyes will once again be on Dhoni, whose presence alone seems to breathe new life into Chennai’s playoff aspirations.
