Watch: In an IPL 2024 match at the Wankhede Stadium, MS Dhoni began his innings with three sixes off three balls against Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya.

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Despite losing Ajinkya Rahane early, Chennai Super Kings blazed away to a rapid start after home captain Hardik Pandya opted for his side to bowl first. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad made his highest score of the season (69 from 40 balls), while Shivam Dube blasted his way to an unbeaten 40-ball 66.

CSK were 180-3 after 19 overs when Pandya himself came to bowl the last over. He began with a wide. After Daryl Mitchell drove him for four past long-on, he bowled a second wide, before having Mitchell caught at long-on. With four balls remaining, Gaikwad promoted MS Dhoni ahead of Sameer Rizvi and Ravindra Jadeja.

Pandya’s next ball was just outside off-stump, in the slot. Dhoni dispatched it into the stands over long-off. Pandya then pitched up again, this time on the stumps; Dhoni swung his bat and cleared the mid-wicket fence.

Pandya now attempted a yorker, but overdid the length. Dhoni received it on the full and slog-swept the ball to complete a hat-trick of sixes and take Chennai past the 200-run mark.

Pandya then took the pace off for the final delivery of the innings, and an inside edge allowed Dhoni two more runs. He finished on a four-ball 20, Chennai on 206-4, and Pandya with 2-43.

At the time of writing, Mumbai were 36-0 in 3.3 overs with Rohit Sharma (20) and Ishan Kishan (20) at the crease. They need another 171 in 99 balls.

Watch MS Dhoni start his innings with three sixes off Hardik Pandya:

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