MS Dhoni of Chennai Super Kings with players during the Qualifier 1 match of the Tata Indian Premier League between the Gujurat Titans and the Chennai Super Kings held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on the 23rd May 2023
Photo by: Arjun Singh / SPORTZPICS for IPL Sanjay Manjrekar on CSK captain pausing game versus GT during Qualifier 1. Former cricketer turned expert Sanjay Manjrekar says Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni was keen to incorporate top pacer Matheesha Pathirana in the final few overs.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar recently shared his thoughts on a disputed incident that occurred during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 Qualifier 1 match between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings. MS Dhoni chastised for pausing the game in the second innings while waiting for Matheesha Pathirana to return to the pitch.
CSK upset the defending champions GT to go to the finals. CSK bundled out the Titans for 157 runs in 20 overs, effectively defending the 173-run goal. The two teams battled in an exciting match that was ultimately won by the MS Dhoni-led team by a decisive margin of 15 runs. However, there was a brief pause in play while CSK wait for Pathirana to return to the pitch and bowl the over.
Also Read: Sunil Gavaskar’s on Naveen-ul-Haq celebratory style during the LSG versus MI Eliminator
Sanjay Manjrekar described Dhoni’s actions as “desperation” in seeking Pathirana’s eligibility.
“We have no idea what happened. He was gone for 9 (four) minutes, and we don’t know whether the time they talk counted or not. When the game is actually play, time is also count on the field. Perhaps MS (Dhoni) felt it would work in his favor. MS seems desperate today, in my opinion. He realize that the way Rashid Khan playing, he need to pass the ball to someone he could trust. Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo, “It could be tactical.”
Recognizing Pathirana’s worth as a specialist in the final few overs, Dhoni intended to deploy him for that key over to meet his bowling requirement. This episode sparked fascinating discussions that shed light on the tactical decisions made by captains under pressure. Dhoni’s planned decision indicates his knowledge and unwavering dedication to improving his team’s chances of winning.
Also Visit: Akash Madhwal deserves full credit for leading MI to the second round of qualifying: Irfan Pathan