- Nasima Akter
MS Dhoni Hosts a Masterclass in CSK Dressing Room
The Indian Premier League is one of the most anticipated events on the cricketing calendar, with the 2023 edition currently underway. On Saturday, the tournament treated cricket fans to a double-header, with some nail-biting cricketing action on display.
The first match of the day saw the Mumbai Indians travel down south to take on the Chennai Super Kings, two of the most successful teams in the tournament's history. Chennai emerged victorious with a resounding six-wicket win over the five-time champions.
The second game of the day saw the Delhi Capitals host the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Delhi, who were languishing at the bottom of the league standings, managed to climb out of their slump with a stunning win over RCB, thanks to a masterclass by Phil Salt.
The Class
However, it wasn't just the action on the field that grabbed attention. A newly released video footage from the CSK dressing room has gone viral, showing skipper MS Dhoni analyzing RCB's star batsman Virat Kohli's game. In the video, Dhoni can be heard pointing out a nuance in Kohli's game, saying, "Virat doesn't play the first ball like this. It is always here."
Kohli, who was playing in his hometown of Delhi for the game against the Delhi Capitals, registered yet another 50 in the ongoing season of the IPL, becoming the first batsman to cross the 7000-run mark in the tournament. Mahipal Lomror contributed to the Bengaluru cause with his half-ton, while captain Faf du Plessis made 45 runs with his willow.
But Kohli's heroics were in vain, as Phil Salt took apart the RCB bowling attack, smashing the bowlers all over the park en route to his 87-run knock, which took the game away from the Karnataka-based team.
IPL So Far
The IPL has always been a platform for young talent to showcase their skills, and the 2023 edition has been no different. The likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, and Prithvi Shaw have all made headlines with their impressive performances.
With the tournament in full flow, it remains to be seen which team will emerge as the champions. The Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have been the most successful teams in the tournament's history, with four and five titles, respectively. Still, with the Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and other teams looking strong, the race for the title is wide open.
The IPL has also been a significant boost for the cricketing economy, with franchises investing heavily in their teams and players. The tournament has helped unearth new talent, with many players going on to represent their national teams at the highest level.
The 2023 edition of the IPL promises to be another exciting affair, with some of the world's best cricketers plying their trade in the tournament. With the tournament reaching its halfway mark, the excitement and anticipation among cricket fans around the world are at an all-time high.
The next match will be between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings on May 8. The next match for the Chennai Super Kings will be on May 10 and it's against the Delhi Capitals.
If you want to see more social media posts involving Dhoni, check out his farewell tribute.
