MS Dhoni and tactical shrewdness are synonymous. The seasoned keeper-batsman has demonstrated his leadership skills on numerous occasions, not only in the Indian Premier League but also in international cricket. The captain of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has led his team to four IPL titles by inspiring others.
It is common knowledge that CSK and Mumbai Indians (MI) have a long-standing rivalry. With nine IPL titles between them, the two teams are fierce rivals. We witness a battle of tactics between the two teams when they meet. Each tries to get ahead of the other. In light of this, we’ll take a look back at the CSK-MI matches, where MS Dhoni’s brilliant strategy turned the game around.
3) The return of Ajinkya Rahane to glory
It appeared that Ajinkya Rahane would not make the playing XI, so CSK purchased him as a backup because the team already had a lot of top-order batters.
However, in IPL 2023, playing against MI, MS Dhoni sprung a shock by including Rahane into the XI to bat at No. 3, a position he seldomly batted in his IPL vocation.
CSK won the game in the 19th over thanks to Rahane’s 19-ball half century and the success of the move, which sent MI bowlers flying all over the field.
2) Rohit Sharma capitulating to MS Dhoni’s arrangement
In the 49th match of the IPL 2023, MI captain Rohit Sharma was flawlessly dismissed by MS Dhoni.
Rohit, who was downgraded, now bats at No. 3 at Chepauk, Cameron Green had to come to the crease early after the move to push him into the first position went wrong.
The under-firing MI skipper, who was stepping out of his crease not only to settle down but also to disturb Deepak Chahar, did not appear at all at ease in the middle.
In an effort to prevent Rohit from coming down the track against the swing bowler, MS Dhoni made the decision to walk up onto the stumps. After that, he set up fielders at slip, short third, and backward point.
Rohit attempted to play a lap shot over short fine leg off Chahar’s slower good length delivery, but he mistimed it, which caused the ball to take the outside edge, clip his thumb, and lob towards the gully. The move paid off, as Rohit was able to play the shot. Standing at the backward point, Ravindra Jadeja effortlessly ran in and completed the catch.
1) Pollard’s straight ploy
In the 2010 IPL last, MS Dhoni thought of an unconcerned ploy interestingly against Kieron Pollard. Matthew Hayden, a straighter mid-off fielder, was rolled up by the skipper in place of Albie Morkel.
Immediately, Pollard slammed a fuller delivery to Hayden, who made an excellent catch at the edge of the circle, threatening to lead MI to an unlikely victory.
In 2022, Dhoni used the same tactic against Pollard when he asked Shivam Dube to field straight between long on and long off in the 17th over against Maheesh Theekshana.
To entice Pollard to attack him in the straight, the offspinner bowled slower through the air. The Caribbean ace immediately took the bait and lofted the ball to Dube, who took a straightforward catch at the boundary.
On the two events, Pollard’s wicket ended up being the defining moment of the match, as CSK figured out how to beat the five-time champions the twice.