As MS Dhoni, the esteemed icon of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), stepped onto the pitch at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, a palpable surge of excitement swept through the arena. The arrival of the legendary cricketer elicited a resounding ovation that echoed far beyond the stadium confines, igniting the spirits of cricket enthusiasts.
On Friday evening, the atmosphere crackled with intense emotion as Dhoni stepped onto the field against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), with the lingering possibility that this might be his final IPL appearance in the City of Nawabs.
Sasha Hurly’s Instagram story goes viral
Amidst the sea of CSK’s signature yellow adorning the stands, the stage was set for a spectacle, and Dhoni rose to the occasion. The intensity of the moment was captured in a viral Instagram story by Sasha Hurly, wife of cricketer Quinton de Kock. Her post featured a snapshot of her smartwatch alerting to “LOUD ENVIRONMENT – Sound levels hit 95 decibels. Just 10 minutes at this level can cause temporary hearing loss. Repeated long-term.”
The crescendo of cheers paved the way for Dhoni’s masterclass in batting. The 42-year-old maestro unleashed a spectacular onslaught, pummelling the LSG bowlers for an unbeaten 28 runs off just nine deliveries. His commanding performance, laced with three fours and two majestic sixes, enraptured the audience and underscored his enduring prowess on the cricket field.
Also READ: IPL 2024 – Netizens go berserk as MS Dhoni lights up Ekana with explosive cameo for CSK against LSG
KL Rahul has his say on Dhoni’s impact
Acknowledging Dhoni’s impact, KL Rahul, captain of LSG, reflected on the pressure that the CSK stalwart exerts on the game.
“Halfway stage, I would have been happy with 160. Felt like the wicket was a bit slow, bit of a grip but not too much. 160-165 would have been ideal. But its MSD, he walks in and the pressure gets to the bowlers and that’s the presence and intimidation that he’s had over teams and oppositions and bowlers,” remarked Rahul during the post-match presentation ceremony.
Despite the challenges posed by Dhoni’s blitz, Rahul commended his team’s resilience. “We have a young team and its the first time they were put under pressure by a huge figure like MS and the crowd was really loud. They stuck to their plans but he is a phenomenal player to still hit that for sixes. 15-20 runs extra but we knew if we batted well, we can get to the total,” he added.
