IPL 2023: News - MS Dhoni reveals how he kept calm under pressure situation

Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni shared that he was not thinking about the final result but about the processes when Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis were going strong in the high-scoring thriller between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers on Monday, April 17. Dhoni said that he was happy to stay in the present even as the two RCB players gave the team hopes of chasing down 227 runs in the nail-biting clash.

A week, after RCB failed to defend 212 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, CSK gave them another reality check with a win. Although Glenn Maxwell and captain Faf du Plessis added a 126-run stand in just 61 balls. Maxwell scored 8 sixes while Du Plessis hit 5 sixes as the duo broke the record for the highest partnership for the 3rd wicket in the IPL as well in the IPL 2023.

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It was a stunning show from both ends as RCB scored 140 in just the 12th over, bringing the asking rate under control too. To add to CSK’s woes, Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana dropped the catch of Du Plessis on 52 in the 11th over.

“Whenever you score 220, the batsmen have to keep on hitting. It’s a matter of few overs in the middle. If Faf and Maxi had continued, they’d have won by the 18th over, so you need to get engrossed with the process, know what is the bowling change, what can I do from which end, what is really happening, if something has really changed,” MS Dhoni said.

“I can see it better from close by, so I can know if there is deflection off the wicket for the spinners or quicks. I am always involved in what needs to be done. If I can provide bowlers a good field and give nice suggestions, that’s a win for me,” he further added.

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However, it was MS Dhoni’s catches that dismissed Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell. Meanwhile, MS Dhoni heaped rich praise on Shivam Dube, saying that the Mumbai batter is one of the cleanest hitters of the ball and that he needs to believe in himself more to play those match-winning knocks more as well. However, Dube hit as many as 5 sixes, including a 111-meter six and added a 90-run partnership with Devon Conway.

“Dube is a clean hitter, yes, he has an issue with the fast bowlers but is a tall guy with a different (longer) reach when compared to other batters. So the spinners have to adjust their lengths, and we had plans for him. But he was injured when he came for the camp. He needs to believe that he can score runs in the middle overs more than us because he has the talent and once you cross the ropes you’re alone,” Dhoni said.

CSK will next take on SunRisers Hyderabad in Chepauk on Friday, April 21.