Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan made a remarkable statement about MS Dhoni’s state of mind after his dismissal for a first-ball duck in the IPL final against Gujarat Titans. Dhoni, who is 41 years old, was sent back to the pavilion just moments after Ambati Rayudu’s dismissal during the crucial run-chase.
Viswanathan shared his belief that Dhoni might have felt dejected after getting out, as he was unable to see his team through to victory. However, his emotions were on display due to the extraordinary and dramatic win engineered by Ravindra Jadeja on the final delivery of the last over.
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“When we needed 21 runs from 14 balls and Rayudu got us to that position, I think MS Dhoni might have felt disappointed when he was dismissed on the first ball he faced. He had the capability to finish the match. Given his skillset, he would have finished the game in style. But after his dismissal, he may have thought, ‘I couldn’t fulfill my responsibility.’ He might have felt, ‘What if we lose from here after coming so close.’ We all knew Jadeja was there, but still,” CSK CEO was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“When we needed 10 runs off the final two balls and Jadeja hit that difficult six, we had faith. Defending the winning runs off the final ball is definitely tough for any bowler. But Jadeja, as usual, capitalized on the opportunity, and it was a dream come true for CSK. That’s one of the reasons why Dhoni also showed his emotions,” he added.
The legendary skipper, who recently underwent knee surgery, had been troubled by the injury throughout the tournament. Despite the discomfort, Dhoni continued to play for the franchise, with his knee heavily strapped until the end of the final. Viswanathan acknowledged Dhoni’s unwavering commitment to the team, despite the pain he endured.
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“We knew it was a struggle for him to play, but everyone is aware of his commitment to the team, his leadership, and how the team benefits from it. From that perspective, you have to appreciate him. We knew it was a struggle for him to play, but everyone is aware of his commitment to the team, his leadership, and how the team benefits from it. From that perspective, you have to appreciate him,” CSK CEO added.
