Chennai Super Kings won their first away game this season against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday night. MS Dhoni’s match-winning cameo of unbeaten 20 off four balls was the difference, as touring CSK clinched the marquee clash by 20 runs to go third on the points table. MI captain, Hardik Pandya, who bowled the last over, conceding 26 runs, said Dhoni’s contribution helped CSK clinch a crucial win.

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Pandya failed to deliver with the ball and the bat against CSK. Leaking 43 runs off three overs while picking two wickets, Pandya scored just two runs during the run chase that saw them falling short of the target despite Rohit Sharma’s hundred.

Speaking to the broadcaster after the game, Pandya lauded Matheesha Pathirana for picking four for 28 in the second innings and credited MS Dhoni for keeping the team together while sharing his expertise from behind. 

“It (target) was definitely gettable, but they bowled pretty well. Pathirana was the difference. They were smart with their plans and their approach. They got the hang of it, there’s a man behind the stumps (Dhoni) who tells them what’s working, that helps,” Pandya said while explaining what went wrong for MI at Wankhede.

The captain also shared his thoughts on the pitch, saying it got difficult to bat on as the game progressed, but admitted that Pathirana’s spell changed the complexion.

“It (pitch) was holding up a bit and getting difficult. It was about batting well and keeping the intent. We were going quite well (in the run chase) till Pathirana came into the attack and took those two wickets. 

“It was about what is best at that time, we could have done something different. I like to play percentage cricket; it would have been difficult for him (Dube) against seamers rather than spin. We are on the road for the next four games, need to play good cricket, need to keep the intensity high,” Pandya concluded.

Chennai is back 

Chennai batted first and posted a huge total of 206 for four, thanks to fifties from Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube. However, the cherry on the cake was MS Dhoni’s inning at the end that broke the internet.

Mumbai got off to a flying start, but Pathirana’s introduction changed the whole scenario. Although Rohit Sharma shined with the bat, completing a hundred at his home venue, CSK came on top. 

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