Former Indian captain MS Dhoni left everyone with a lump in their throat when he announced his retirement from international cricket in 2020 with a moving video. The song from the 1976 movie ‘Kabhi Kabhi’ – ‘Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hoon’ – was playing in the background of the video.
This wasn’t the first time Dhoni’s fondness for the song, which encapsulates his life philosophy, had come forth. In 2014, during a show on a TV channel for army personnel, Dhoni sang this song while wearing the army uniform.
Dhoni may have retired from international cricket but even at the age of 41, he participated in the Indian Premier League 2022. Before the tournament began, he had given up his captaincy but was reinstated during the IPL season because his team – Chennai Super Kings – performed abysmally under the new captain Ravindra Jadeja.
On the 41st birthday of this evergreen cricketer, The New Indian revisits 5 Dhoni innings in the IPL when the ‘Captain Cool’ snatched victory from the jaws of defeat:
1) 54* (29 balls) against Kings XI Punjab in 2010: With CSK’s qualification for the semi-final on the line, Dhoni belted out a tubthumping innings to help his team squeak home. Chasing 193, Chennai needed 16 runs in the final over but the ‘Captain Cool’ took just 4 balls. He clouted two colossal sixes through midwicket off Irfan Pathan to dash Punjab’s hopes.
Highlights – IPL 2010 Match 54 Highlights KXIP vs CSK
2) 51* (20 balls) against Mumbai Indians in 2012: Dhoni once again cemented his reputation as a big-match player by propelling Chennai to a victory in the Eliminator against Mumbai. Dhoni smashed an unbeaten 51 off just 20 balls, against an attack spearheaded by Lasith Malinga, to catapult Chennai to 187 in 20 overs. He demolished Mumbai’s morale by unleashing carnage in death overs as the opposition could only manage 149-9 in their 20 overs.
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Highlights – IPL 2012 Eliminator – MI vs CSK: Highlights
3) 67* (37 balls) against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013: Chasing 160, Chennai required 46 runs off the last four overs against an attack led by Dale Steyn who was the best pacer in the world at that time. However, Dhoni made light of the chase as he smote three sixes off Steyn and then easily clobbered Ashish Reddy for 15 runs in the last over to seal the match for his team.
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Highlights – https://www.iplt20.com/video/22558/m34-csk-vs-srh-man-of-the-match-ms-dhoni
4) 64* (32) against Kings XI Punjab in 2016: In 2016, Dhoni played for a new franchise Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS). His team failed to cut the mustard, however Dhoni arguably unfurled the best innings of his IPL career. RPS needed 23 off the last over to chase down 173, but the equation boiled down to 12 runs from the last two balls. Dhoni incredibly smacked two sixes off the last two deliveries bowled by the left-arm spinner Axar Patel to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The last six was a vintage ‘helicopter’ shot over deep midwicket as the crowd erupted in joy.
Highlights – M53: RPS vs KXIP – Match Highlights
5) 70* (34 balls) against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018: Another chase. Another crunch situation! Another last-over finish! Another masterclass! Chasing 206, Dhoni followed the template to the tee as he took Bangalore bowlers to the cleaners by cracking 45 runs in the last three overs. Chennai romped home by five wickets with 2 balls remaining.
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Highlights – M24: RCB vs CSK – Match Highlights
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