Virender Sehwag believes MS Dhoni can keep an under-firing CSK in hunt for the IPL 2022 playoffs berth.
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Chennai Super Kings’ win over SunRisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League 2022 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Sunday has ignited a debate over their frail chance of qualifying for the playoffs. One of the most consistent sides in the IPL, CSK, have won only three out of their matches with an outside chance to make it to the top four. However, with former India captain MS Dhoni, returning at helm may believe that the franchise have a chance to turn their fortunes.
READ MORE: IPL 2022: How MS Dhoni inspired Mukesh Choudhary to bowl the final over against SRH
Former India opener Virender Sehwag doesn’t mince words. He expresses himself through words like the way he expressed himself against some of the finest bowlers of all-times through his batting prowess. He has known and shared the dressing room with Dhoni for sometime before hanging up his boots and believes that the former India captain can guide CSK to a playoffs berth in the lucrative tournament this season.
“I have been with that man since 2005 and I have seen Indian cricket change under him. After that we won several ICC knockouts, home series under him, the ones which we used to lose before but they turned into victories. So keeping that in mind, I am saying that it can happen [CSK winning 6 games in a row],” Sehwag said while speaking on Cricbuzz.
Chennai Super Kings defeated SunRisers Hyderabad by 13 runs in the Indian Premier League 2022 contest at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Sunday. It was only their third win of the season and their first under MS Dhoni who returned back to his captaincy role after Ravindra Jadeja decided to quit following his short stint. And even though Dhoni did not play a major role with the bad his ability to read the game from behind the stumps and guide his bowlers made the headlines.
Following their dismissals, Aiden Markram, chipped in with a knock of 17 runs off 10 deliveries while Nicholas Pooran (64 not out) held the fort for SRH with his 33-ball knock. But wickets continued to stumble from the other end as Shashank Singh (15) and Washington Sundar (2) failed to add much to the team tally. Pooran, however, remained unbeaten in his valiant effort of 33 deliveries which included three boundaries and six hits over the fence. CSK utilised six bowlers in the match but young fast bowler Mukesh Choudhary continued to impress as he picked up four wickets for 46 runs in his spell. South Africa medium pacer Dwaine Pretorius picked up a wicket while Kiwi spinner Mitchell Santner also scalped one to help the cause for their side.
Earlier, Ruturaj Gaikwad (99) and Devon Conway (85) put up a batting exhibition on show to guide CSK to a massive 202/2. Asked to bat, by SRH captain Kane Williamson, Gaikwad and Conway laid the foundation for the match to take the opposition bowlers to the cleaners. Gaikwad and Conway eased through their respective innings to pile misery on the SRH bowlers. The right-left handed combination forged an opening stand of 182 runs before Gaikwad was sent packing for 99 runs. He smashed six boundaries and as many sixes in the 57-ball knock. After his dismissal, captain MS Dhoni, promoted himself up the order but could only contribute eight runs to the team tally. The Kiwi opener, meanwhile, smashed eight boundaries and four hits over the top in his unbeaten knock of 55 deliveries.
