Watch: Daryl Mitchell runs two by himself after MS Dhoni declines run to keep strike

Chennai Super Kings were put into bat by Punjab Kings at the Chepauk Stadium on what was a difficult wicket to bat on. After scoring 55 for no loss in the powerplay, CSK lost their way, scoring only 35 runs for the loss of three wickets in the next eight overs.

Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad once again carried the innings for CSK, crossing fifty for the fifth time in his last six outings. He was bowled by Arshdeep Singh in the 18th over for 62 off 48, bringing MS Dhoni to the crease.

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Dhoni got a single off the first ball he faced to retain strike for the 19th over, which PBKS smartly gave to Rahul Chahar, who ended up conceding only three runs. He also took the wicket of Moeen Ali, which brought in Daryl Mitchell, batting at No.8.

Mitchell’s solo double

Dhoni was on strike for the last over, bowled by Arshdeep. After a wide first ball, he smashed a boundary off the next, before a dot ball and another wide gave CSK six runs off two balls. The third legitimate ball of the over then threw up a familiar sight.

Dhoni sliced a low full toss towards the off side and stayed put in his crease. Mitchell, however, oblivious to Dhoni’s non-commitment to the run, put his head down and reached the striker’s end. With Dhoni refusing to move, Mitchell had to turn around and sprint back to the non-striker’s end, which he successfully did, effectively running two runs on his own without any added to either his or CSK’s total.

This wasn’t the first time that Dhoni has denied his partner the strike in the death overs, irrespective of the pedigree of the batter batting with him.

He was eventually run out himself on the last ball of the over, trying to complete a second run, making it his first dismissal in eight innings this season. Dhoni currently averages 110 with a strike rate of 229 in IPL 2024.

Watch Daryl Mitchell run two by himself as Dhoni declines to run: