Watch: Against the Rajasthan Royals at Chepauk, MS Dhoni hit Sandeep Sharma for consecutive sixes to keep the Chennai Super Kings in the hunt until the last ball.
Chasing 176 on their home turf, Chennai were off to a brisk start, reaching 78-1 in the tenth over. However, the Rajasthan spinners – R Ashwin (2-25), Yuzvendra Chahal (2-27), and Adam Zampa (1-43) took five wickets, and Chennai slumped to 113-6 after 15 overs.
Dhoni joined Ravindra Jadeja at this point. The first two overs, from Ashwin and Chahal, passed without fuss, and Chennai needed 54 in three overs. Dhoni hit Zampa for a four and a six, while Jadeja slammed a four and two sixes off Jason Holder.
Chennai now needed 21 in the last over, and Sandeep began with two wides before bowling an outstanding yorker that Dhoni could merely play back to him.
Sandeep tried bowl another yorker, but ended up bowling a low full-toss on the pads. Dhoni blasted it over the deep fine-leg boundary for six, using brute force to enable the ball go the distance despite the extremely flat trajectory.
Sandeep followed with another low full-toss, this time on middle stump. Dhoni sent the ball over deep mid-wicket for a second six, sending the Chepauk crowd into a state of near-delirium.
With seven to defend from three balls, Sandeep switched to round the wicket. The change of angle denied Dhoni room, and he could only play it to deep mid-wicket for a run.
Sandeep now perfected the yorker, and all Jadeja could do was pick up a single to deep extra-cover.
With five to win, all expectations were on Dhoni, who has been there, done that many a time before. As Chepauk waited with bated breath, Sandeep bowled yet another yorker. Dhoni tried to heave it over mid-wicket but could only play it to deep mid-wicket for a run.
