Some fans took to social media to target Punjab Kings (PBKS) bowler Harshal Patel after he removed former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni for a golden duck during the ongoing IPL 2024 match between the two teams on Sunday.
At the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, CSK, after opting to bat first, were 150/7 in 18.4 overs when Dhoni stepped onto the field. Despite his vast experience, Dhoni couldn’t propel his team to a strong finish and was dismissed on the first delivery he faced.
Harshal outsmarted Dhoni with a well-disguised slower ball, causing the veteran to miss completely and lose his off-stump. Subsequently, some MS Dhoni supporters directed abuse towards Harshal on various social media platforms.
Harshal Patel’s recent Instagram post was inundated with negative comments, as he bore the brunt of Dhoni fans’ anger.
Harshal Patel stood out among PBKS bowlers against CSK, claiming 3 wickets for 24 runs in his 4 overs. Notably, he shares the top spot for most wickets this season with Jasprit Bumrah, having taken 17 wickets in 11 innings.
Chennai posted a total of 167/9 in their 20 overs, with Ravindra Jadeja being their top scorer, amassing 43 runs from 26 deliveries.
“I have too much respect for him to celebrate when I get him out” –Harshal Patel on securing the dismissal of MS Dhoni
During a mid-inning interview, Harshal Patel expressed his deep admiration for MS Dhoni, explaining that he refrains from excessive celebration when dismissing the renowned wicketkeeper-batsman.
He also highlighted the significant presence of reverse swing during the afternoon match. Harshal stated:
“Wicket was on drier side. I have too much respect for him to celebrate when I get him out (on Dhoni). One of the advantages of playing a day game is that the square is quite rough. So the ball starts reversing.”
“In my first over it was reversing. It’s all about the feel of that delivery (slower one). More you bowl the better you get. Most batters don’t pick it. Have been practicing in the nets, and when it comes out it gives you great results.”
In addition to MS Dhoni, Harshal Patel also claimed the wickets of Shardul Thakur and Daryl Mitchell in the pivotal match.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
