MS Dhoni, one of those rare cricketers who has all the cricketing attributes in him. Brisk wicket-keeping skills, fascinating batting and impactful leadership skills make him the best in the business. Apart from all these, his match analytical skill is what makes him a sorcerer of the game. One mesmerising incident happened during the Chennai Super Kings match against Rajasthan Royals. Dhoni anticipated that a dry ball would turn even before Jos Buttler lost his wicket.
Dhoni’s predictability impressed former Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar. England’s wicketkeeper, and the vital clog for RR, Jos Buttler, was playing swiftly in their pursuit of 189. In the 10th over, he went maximum off Ravindra Jadeja. As a result, umpires had to replace the old ball with a new dry ball. MS Dhoni brought Jadeja back to bowl the 12th over.
MS Dhoni’s tactics were spot on – Sunil Gavaskar
Even before, Jadeja could release the first delivery, Dhoni was caught on the mic, saying that the ball would turn. As it happened, Buttler lost his wicket as a spin from Jadeja hit him stumps. Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar praised the World Cup-winning captain saying that the bowling changes he made were spot on against Rajasthan Royals.
“The bowling changes he made (was brilliant). The moment the ball was changed after Jos Buttler hit that six and a dry ball came, he said it in Hindi to Jadeja that the next ball will turn, and it did turn.”
“Jos Buttler got out and then he gave the ball to Moeen Ali. A dry ball for a spinner… Again, brilliant captaincy from Dhoni,” Sunil Gavaskar said.
Sunil Gavaskar also praised MS Dhoni’s ability to put things together in the match. The cricketer-turned commentator hailed the former India skipper for having the right fielders in the right places that saved quite a few runs which made the difference in the end.
“Very impressed. In his 200th match as captain of CSK, he was spot on with just about everything. The bowling changes, the field placements. Jadeja took 4 catches but apart from that, look at the number of boundaries he saved and that is so important, to keep the right fielders in the right position, and Dhoni had that,” Sunil Gavaskar added.
After winning their second consecutive game, Chennai Super Kings have jumped to the second spot in the IPL 2021 points table.