The Dhoni aura: KKR captain Shreyas admits he was tensed at one level throughout IPL 2022 opener

When MS Dhoni is batting, the opposition is rarely comfy. The World Cup-winning former India captain has scripted some outstanding victories from unbelievable conditions for each India and Chennai Super Kings up to now. The 40-year-old practically did it once more, this time for CSK of their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 opener in opposition to Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday.

Coming into bat at 61/5 in 10.5 overs after KKR captain Shreyas Iyer gained the toss and opted to discipline, Dhoni had a stiff job in his hand to assist CSK put up a combating complete.

CSK vs KKR, IPL 2022 Highlights | Report

Dhoni is not his classic self, who used to hit the large ones for enjoyable. His reflexes, particularly in relation to batting, have slowed down and that was evident in the best way Dhoni laboured via with the bat in CSK’s successful run in IPL 2022.

On Saturday too, Dhoni struggled to get his timing proper. The lack of aggressive match apply for the person who stop worldwide cricket in 2020, was on show as KKR spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine tied him down.

Dhoni was 5 of 13, 15 of 25 however he completed with 50 not out of 38 balls as CSK completed with 131 on the finish of 20 overs on a unusually two-paced Wankhede pitch.

Dhoni took his time to get going however as soon as he discovered the center of the blade, the previous CSK captain took followers down reminiscence lane. He smashed 7 boundaries and a six and hit 45 of his final 25 deliveries to provide CSK an out of doors probability.

The indisputable fact that CSK took the match to the penultimate over is due to Dhoni’s late blitz.

“There is always tension when MS Dhoni is batting. I knew momentum was going to shift towards them with the dew around. It was difficult to grip the ball,” Iyer stated.

‘CHUFFED FOR UMESH’

Dhoni’s fifty, his first within the IPL in 3 years, went in useless as KKR gunned down the entire with relative ease. New-recruit Ajinkya Rahane hit a stable 44 whereas Sam Billings and Nitish Rana hit quickfire 20s to assist KKR get 2 factors on the board.

However, KKR’s victory was arrange by Umesh Yadav’s new-ball burst. The senior India pacer, who acquired a brand new IPL contract with Kolkata, made good use of the nip within the air on Saturday night in Mumbai to bother the CSK batting unit.

Umesh acquired the large wicket of final season’s Orange Cap winner, Ruturaj Gaikwad, for 0 within the first over and took out New Zealand star Devon Conway within the powerplay. He completed with figures of two/20 in 4 overs to win the Player of the Match award.

Heaping reward on Umesh, captain Iyer stated: “Umesh has worked hard in the nets and did well in the practice games too. Really chuffed to see him perform today.”