MS Dhoni Gets Hit While Keeping in IPL Opener; Escapes Serious Injury

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni made a much anticipated and much-awaited return to the field in the first game of the IPL 2023 against Gujarat Titans (GT). Towards the end of the match, Dhoni suffered a freak injury that gave a major scare to everyone watching the game. CSK couldn’t start the tournament well as they lost their first game of the season to GT by five wickets.  

The incident took place in the 19th over of the second innings. On the second delivery of the 19th over, Deepak Chahar attempted a brilliant toe-crushing yorker, MS Dhoni who was behind the wickets dived full length towards his right to save a boundary, which he couldn’t as the ball deflected off Rahul Tewatia’s boots and went for an important boundary. As soon as Dhoni was trying to get up, he was seen in discomfort. In this process, he suffered some cramps and was left in pain.

This injury sent shockwaves to every fan sitting in the Narendra Modi Stadium and the CSK camp as well. Looking at Dhoni’s condition, Chennai’s physio was quick to run on the field and check on the veteran cricketer. After assessing his condition, the physio made his way back to the dugout. Dhoni continued to keep wickets as the game couldn’t last for too long.

Dhoni Starred With the Bat for CSK

In the context of any game, the 19th over of the second innings in a T20 game is considered to be the most important over. Dhoni’s most trusted bowler- Chahar was given the responsibility of bowling that over. With five wickets down the game was hanging in balance. Chahar conceded a boundary on the second ball in the form of leg byes. That delivery eased off the pressure from the Titans.

On the fourth delivery, Rashid Khan, playing his first ball, dispatched Chahar for a gigantic six. Rashid then smashed a boundary on the fifth ball to make the equation for the chasing team. Gujarat needed eight runs to win off the final over. Tewatia smacked two boundaries off the first two balls to win the game for his team by five wickets. 

Playing for the first time since IPL 2022, fan favorite- MS Dhoni made a great start to the 16th edition of the tournament with the bat. The explosive batter played a brilliant cameo of unbeaten 14 which came off just 7 deliveries, including one huge six and a four. The six which Dhoni hit was his 200th for CSK. With this, he becomes the fifth batter to smash 200 sixes for a single IPL team.