NEW DELHI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni came out for the final four balls of Chennai Super Kings' innings and smashed the first three balls for three back-to-back sixes, helping his team amass 26 runs off Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya's last over on Sunday at the jam-packed Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. These crucial 26 runs, off Dhoni's bat, proved pivotal in CSK's 20-run triumph over Mumbai Indians.
Following CSK's imposing total of 206 for 4 in 20 overs, Matheesha Pathirana's four-wicket haul restricted Pandya and Co. to 186 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs, securing victory for CSK by 20 runs.
Apart from CSK's victory, a light-hearted moment between veteran Dhoni and the team's new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad stole the spotlight during the match.
1/10:CSK beat MI despite Rohit Sharma's ton
AP
2/10:CSK beat MI
<p>Rohit Sharma hit an unbeaten 105 but his Mumbai Indians fell 20 runs short as they tried to chase down a big target set by holders Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. </p>AFP
3/10:Rohit Sharma
<p>Set 207 for victory, five-time winners Mumbai finished on 186/6 even though Rohit raised his ton in 61 balls at his home ground in Wankhede Stadium. </p>IANS
4/10:CSK
<p>Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and the in-form Shivam Dube powered Chennai, who won their fifth title last year, to 206/4. </p>AFP
5/10:MS Dhoni
<p>Gaikwad hit 69 and Dube smashed an unbeaten 66 before warhorse MS Dhoni smashed three successive sixes in the 20th over to take Chennai past 200. </p>AP
6/10:Vintage Dhoni
<p>Dhoni came in to bat with four balls left and scored 20 smashing Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya for three sixes and finished with a two to end a 26-run over. </p>AFP
7/10:Matheesha Pathirana
<p>Sri Lanka quick Matheesha Pathirana then took four wickets to push Mumbai to their fourth loss of the season. </p>PTI
8/10:CSK end on a high
<p>Gaikwad put on 90 runs with Dube before falling to Pandya, but Dube and then Dhoni's cameo ensured Chennai finished strongly. </p>AP
9/10:MI openers
<p>Mumbai started well with Rohit and Ishan Kishan putting on 70 runs for the first wicket before Pathirana hit back. </p>AFP
10/10:Pathirana on fire
<p>Pathirana sent back Kishan and then Suryakumar Yadav, for his second duck this season, in the space of three balls. </p>AFPDhoni, who recently passed the captaincy to Gaikwad, jovially requested Gaikwad to give him a pat on the back.
The moment was loved by a number of fans on social media.
WATCH:
With the win over MI, CSK took the third position in the IPL points table.
CSK will now take on Lucknow Super Giants on April 19 in Lucknow.
