Dhoni returned to captaincy, and Chennai returned to their winning ways. Mahendra Singh Dhoni also showed that his finishing instinct hasn’t completely faded.
As Dhoni resumed the role of captain, Chennai Super Kings found their way back to victory. The weight of age had clouded him like a cataract over the eyes, but the pressure of leadership seemed to wipe that veil away in no time.
Ruturaj Gaikwad had been entrusted with the leadership of Chennai Super Kings. In this year’s Indian Premier League campaign, Chennai found themselves near the bottom of the table. No one had a clear answer to why a five-time champion team was in such disarray.
But finally, with the transfer of leadership, a new dawn of victory rose. After five consecutive defeats, the team finally saw the light of triumph. And Mahendra Singh Dhoni contributed to that victory with the bat in hand. He had been facing harsh criticism throughout this IPL season. Comments like “he has lost his abilities,” and “Chennai is unnecessarily carrying Dhoni” seemed to have no end. But on this day, with a strike rate of nearly 236, he made it clear — his time isn’t over yet.
Dhoni scored 26 runs off 11 balls. Along with Shivam Dube, he led the team’s charge towards victory. His bat delivered four boundaries and one six in that brief but impactful innings. Yet at one point, with five wickets down for 111 runs, Chennai seemed to be counting down to another defeat. Dhoni was no longer the center of anyone’s trust.
But as soon as he reclaimed the captaincy, it was as if Dhoni rediscovered his magic touch. He pulled off an almost impossible run-out, dismissing Abdul Samad. Then with the bat, the old finisher Dhoni made a dazzling return. Moreover, he displayed sharp captaincy through strategic bowling changes.
Altogether, a ray of hope has appeared for Chennai Super Kings. Now, the question is how far can Chennai go under Dhoni’s leadership? For Ruturaj, the season is over.
