Dhoni's Endgame - 5 Classic last over finishes in the IPL

It’s commonplace by now that MS Dhoni specializes in the 'Endgame'. His last over exploits have been a thing for the past many years, and it never gets old. When it comes to the IPL, there are few sights better than Dhoni taking it deep and “finishing it off in style” against a hapless looking opposition.

Ever since CSK returned to the IPL arena last year, Dhoni has been at his imperious best for the team, leading the run-scoring charts both years. Leading them to the finals in both the years, and winning one, it was almost nerve-wracking when he said “hopefully yes” to the question if he would be there next season. But just like he pulls a last over miracle out of the hat every now and then, we know he will be back for yet another ride (and maybe a couple more).

So, here’s looking at 5 times when Dhoni was the miracle-worker for CSK (or RPSG) and pulled out one his last over classics.

Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2019

A match-winning 50 yet again from the Veteran

A home game for CSK, and they were precariously placed at 88-4 in the 14th over, when Bravo joined Dhoni at the crease. Dhoni was at his usual self, pinching the singles and occasional boundaries and was at 33 of 30 balls at the end of the 16th over. He played out two overs from Archer without taking much risks, and the score read 147-5 in 19 overs. Dhoni played 4 balls in the last over, in which he collected 19 runs, including 3 sixes of the last 3 balls.

It was, to borrow from a cliché, vintage Dhoni as CSK finished at 175/5. They won the match by 8 runs, which shows how important the last over fireworks were. MS finished his innings at 75 off 46 balls, collecting 42 runs off his last 16 deliveries. A masterful construction of a T20 innings, that ensured CSK maintained their winning streak at home.

Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2019

A MS Special took CSK to the brink against RCB

Though this ended up as a 1 run defeat for CSK, the sheer brilliance with which MS Dhoni single-handedly took his team to the brink of a victory from what looked like certain defeat, was a sight to behold. Walking in with the team at 28-4 in the 6th over, Dhoni steered the team in the company of Rayudu, Jadeja, and Bravo to some respectability. With 26 needed off the last over, Dhoni took strike against Umesh Yadav.

And what followed was an orchestra of destruction. A boundary, a double, and three sixes later, CSK needed just 2 of the last ball, but it was not to be as Shardul Thakur was run out in an anticlimactic finish to the match and CSK came short by 1 run. Dhoni finished at 84 off just 48 balls, when the next best score was a run-a-ball 29 by Rayudu. This truly would have been the best of all blockbuster finishes Dhoni has been a part of, but alas.

Rising Pune Super Giants vs Kings XI Punjab, IPL 2016

When MSD took Axar Patel to the cleaners

This was a game which had the least implications of them all. The only thing at stake was not finishing last in the table, with the loser of this match grabbing the wooden spoon. Set 173 to win, Dhoni found his team in trouble as usual as they meandered to 86-5 in the 14th over. Thisara Perera joined Dhoni at the middle, as RPSG needed 87 runs off the last 6 overs. Perera and Dhoni stitched together a handy partnership and it all boiled down to 23 runs required off the last over with MS on strike against Axar Patel.

And just to make it a bit more tense, the first ball was a dot ball. A wide, a six, a dot, and a boundary later, it was down to 12 runs needed off the last 2 balls. And with two hoicks to midwicket, it was game over as Dhoni led his team to yet another unlikeliest of wins with a last over Houdini act. With 12 required off 2 balls, one would always back the bowler to finish things off with this equation, but with Dhoni on strike, it’s pressure on the bowler.

Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2013

A plucky start to a classic finish. MS does it Best

15 runs required off the last over. Dhoni wasn’t in the best of forms during this season, and the way he started this innings was a testimony to that. 6 dots to begin with and dropped by Amit Mishra of his 7th ball, it was an extremely sketchy start to the innings. Pulling himself through the lull, and through the rather ineffectual innings from Bravo and Jadeja, MSD found himself in a similar situation of having 15 runs to pick in the final over.

The responsibility to defend it fell, rather surprisingly, on the inexperienced Ashish Reddy. Ashish Reddy’s weapon of choice was slower balls. And it worked well, once. The veteran in Dhoni was able to read through Reddy’s strategy, and picked every subsequent slower ball (or any other attempt of Reddy) for boundaries. And in a matter of 4 balls, the match was in CSK’s pocket. Dhoni finished with 67 of 37 balls, in what was one his pluckiest T20 innings.

Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab, IPL 2010

When Dhoni became Chennai's Thala !!

Saving the best for the last. The match that probably made Dhoni Chennai’s very own prodigal son. The scene was set amidst the picturesque Dharamshala stadium, as CSK were chasing 193 to secure a spot in the semis. A Raina special and a plucky innings from Badrinath later, CSK were still in a spot of bother with 42 runs required off the last 20 balls as Morkel joined Dhoni in the middle. After a couple of decent overs from VRV Singh and Rusty Theron, the equation came down to 16 runs of the last over with Dhoni on strike to Irfan Pathan.

This time, Dhoni was in a different kind of mood. He didn’t quite want to leave it till the absolute last. He was a man possessed towards the unilateral goal of taking his team to the qualifiers. Irfan Pathan tried his best, but when Dhoni’s on-song, nothing seems to work. A boundary, a couple, and two sixes later the match was sealed, and we got the iconic moment of Dhoni punching himself in the jaw, muttering to himself. A moment etched in IPL history, and in the hearts of CSK fans. Truly a special effort from the legend.