Dhoni highlights special connection with CSK and Chepauk crowd: CSK captain was vocal about the Chepauk crowd post win vs KKR.
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During the 23rd match of the ongoing 12th season of the Indian Premier League between Chennai Super Kings and Chennai Super Kings at Chennai, Chennai Super Kings defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 7 wickets to register their fifth IPL 2019 victory.
While the fans had expected the top-of-the-table clash to be a riveting encounter, it ended up being more of a one-sided contest after Super Kings restricted Knight Riders to 108/9 in their allotted quota of 20 overs. CSK chased the total in the 18th over to gain two points and also reach the top of the table.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony, Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni disclosed that the Chepauk pitch reminded him of IPL 2019 season opener where Royal Challengers Bangalore were bundled out for 70 in 17.1 overs.
CSK knows exactly what to do at their den. Another great win. Thought it might be closer but nevertheless it was brilliant to see @ChennaiIPL stratergise and decimate KKR with a perfect game plan #CSKvKKR
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) April 9, 2019
“It became like the first game [vs RCB]. Again we were cribbing about the track but we won. We’ve lost [Dwayne] Bravo and it looks like this pitch suits us now but I don’t think we want to play on wickets like these because it becomes too low-scoring for the batsmen,” Dhoni was quoted as saying.
“Age is on their side”
In what has been the script of the season so far for CSK, veteran spinners in Harbhajan Singh and Imran Tahir once against didn’t let the opposition batsmen play their shots. In the combined eight overs which they bowled, they conceded just 36 runs and dismissed four batsmen.
“I think age is on their side. They’ve come up every time but once we go out to flatter wickets, we’ll have to see what combinations we’ve to play. Hopefully Bravo comes back soon,” Dhoni said about Harbhajan and Tahir but sounded eager regarding Bravo’s comeback.
The only relationship between city and player in Indian cricket to match Dhoni and Chennai is probably Tendulkar and Mumbai. In contemporary cricket this level of adulation is unmatched.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 9, 2019
“It is a special connection”
Dhoni and CSK’s loyal fans don’t let their presence go unnoticed in matches which are played in Chennai. In what is pretty much a case of them acting as the 12th man for Chennai, the team majorly benefits from it. Being asked about the same, Dhoni highlighted some of his fond memories from Chennai.
“I’ve been here for a very long time and a lot of good things have happened here, including my Test debut. They love the team. It is a special connection and they have really adopted me,” Dhoni added.
