Chennai Super Kings secured another comfortable win at home, utilizing their well-known Chepauk conditions to their advantage, resulting in their second consecutive victory. The team’s spinners, spearheaded by Ravindra Jadeja, took three wickets and helped restrict Sunrisers Hyderabad to 134 for seven. CSK’s Devon Conway then played a key role in the chase, remaining unbeaten on 77 as they won the game by seven wickets.
While MS Dhoni did not bat, he made a significant contribution as a wicketkeeper, taking a catch and recording a stumping and a run-out. Despite this, Dhoni expressed his dissatisfaction with the IPL organisers after being denied a post-match award, which he had even set a record for during the game.
In the 13th over of the match, Mahesh Theekshana was bowling to Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Aiden Markram when the catch was done. The delivery was a carrom ball that spun away, causing Markram to rock back and attempt a lofted shot towards the off side. Unfortunately for Markram, he only managed to get a faint edge on the ball, which was expertly caught by MS Dhoni behind the stumps. This happened on the penultimate ball of the over.
MS Dhoni’s catch during the match enabled him to achieve another world record in wicketkeeping. With a total of 208 catches in T20 cricket, he surpassed South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock to become the player with the most catches in the format. This accomplishment highlights Dhoni’s exceptional skills as a wicketkeeper and his longevity in the sport.
Despite MS Dhoni’s remarkable achievement, he was not awarded the ‘Best Catch of the Match’ award by the IPL.
Instead, the award went to Ruturaj Gaikwad for his successful attempt in dismissing Harry Brook in the fifth over of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s innings. It was a decision that surprised many, and it caused Dhoni to express his frustration with the IPL broadcasters.
Nevertheless, Dhoni’s world record remains an incredible feat and a testament to his exceptional skills in the field.
During the post-match presentation, MS Dhoni made a playful remark about the IPL’s decision not to award him the ‘Best Catch of the Match’ award. He explained that his catch was particularly difficult because he was not in the correct position. Dhoni joked that people often assume that taking catches is easy because wicketkeepers wear gloves, but in reality, it requires a significant amount of skill.
“Still, they didn’t give me the best catch. I felt it was a fantastic catch. I was in such a wrong position. Just because we wear gloves, people think it’s easy,” MS Dhoni said.
He even recalled a game in the past where Rahul Dravid took a similarly impressive catch while in an awkward position. Despite missing out on the award, Dhoni’s sense of humor and sportsmanship were evident in his comments.