Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya heaped praise on MS Dhoni for his ability to read the game perfectly and guide Chennai Super Kings (CSK) during their IPL 2024 match on Sunday. Despite MI’s 20-run loss while chasing 207, Hardik acknowledged the impact of Dhoni’s presence behind the stumps, calling him “the man” who tells CSK what’s working for them.
“They bowled pretty well. Pathirana was the difference. They were smart with the plans and their approach. They got the hang of it, there’s a man behind the stumps (Dhoni) who tells them what’s working, and that helps,” Hardik said after the match.
Hardik admitted that the target was gettable, but Matheesha Pathirana’s four-wicket haul proved to be the turning point. MI were going well in the run chase until Pathirana’s spell, which included two crucial wickets.
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad also praised Dhoni for his explosive 4-ball-20, which included three sixes. “The young wicketkeeper scoring those three sixes helped us a lot, that proved to be the difference. We needed those 10-15 extra runs for this kind of venue,” Ruturaj said.
Ruturaj also explained the decision to open with Ajinkya Rahane, stating that Rahane was carrying a niggle, and it was better for him to open. He expressed confidence in batting anywhere as the team captain.
Both captains acknowledged the importance of executing plans well on a challenging pitch, with Hardik appreciating CSK’s smart approach and Ruturaj praising his bowlers, including Malinga, Tushar, and Shardul, for their performances.
