Dhoni's Vintage Show Against DC Made Fans Ignore CSK's Loss and There Were Hilarious Memes – News18

In Visakhapatnam, it was a night painted in Dhoni’s colours as the erstwhile CSK maestro turned back the clock with a breathtaking display against the Delhi Capitals in the IPL arena, offering a tantalising glimpse of the ‘vintage’ Thala, the greatest finisher of all time. Emerging to bat for the first time in the 2024 season, Thala Dhoni was welcomed by a cacophony measuring no less than 128 decibels, shaking the stadium to its very foundations. Fans erupted in jubilation as MSD graced the crease, promising nothing short of a memorable spectacle, and he certainly didn’t disappoint.

From the get-go, Dhoni was on a rampage, sending the ball hurtling over the ropes in his trademark fashion, his iconic long hair evoking memories of days gone by. Although his cameo failed to steer CSK clear of defeat as Rishabh Pant’s Delhi clinched their first win of the season with a 20-run triumph, Dhoni’s scorching 37-run* blitz off just 16 deliveries provided ample reason for fans to revel in the night’s proceedings, despite the final score. After all, it was Dhoni, and his mere presence at the crease overshadowed any disappointment from the loss.

And thus, the memes flowed freely as social media platforms erupted with chatter about the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman, whose resurgence captured the imagination of fans far and wide.

As the match reached its climax, with CSK needing 41 runs off the final over, Dhoni seized the moment, dispatching Anrich Nortje’s first delivery to the boundary with aplomb. Nortje faltered under pressure, his line and length wavering as Dhoni punished him mercilessly. The second delivery, a full toss, met the same fate, soaring over mid-wicket for a sensational one-handed six. The Proteas paceman’s woes continued, with another errant delivery dispatched to the boundary on the fourth ball.

Dhoni saved the best for last, capping off his innings with a towering six over extra cover off Nortje’s final delivery, finishing with a staggering strike rate of 231.25. Despite his heroics, CSK fell short in their pursuit of a daunting 192-run target, succumbing to the pace duo of Khaleel Ahmed (2/21) and Mukesh Kumar (3/21), ultimately finishing at 171 for six.