MS Dhoni‘s enduring legacy as a cricket legend was on full display during the IPL 2024 match between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday, April 19th. Despite playing in Lucknow, the home of LSG, Dhoni received a hero’s welcome from a sea of yellow-clad CSK fans, leaving a lasting impression on opposition player Nicholas Pooran.
Dhoni’s Hero’s Welcome in Lucknow
Even though it was LSG’s home turf, a significant portion of the crowd erupted in cheers as Dhoni entered the crease. Pooran, witnessing this phenomenal display of support, was left awestruck. “It’s not only this season, but every season,” Pooran remarked in a post-match interview with Star Sports. “When he was coming in with the bat, there was a sea of yellow outside. It was amazing to see. He is a national hero,” he declared.
Pooran, himself a talented cricketer, expressed his delight at sharing the field with Dhoni. “We did not play at the time of Brian Lara; everyone is a die-hard fan of him,” he said, drawing a parallel between Dhoni’s iconic status and that of cricketing legends.
“But it’s nice to witness something like that. It feels good being in that position, but happy to be on the park with him, share those moments, so that we can tell our kids and grandchildren,” Pooran added, highlighting the lasting memories created by playing alongside a national hero.
Dhoni’s Performance on the Field
While Dhoni’s inspirational presence undoubtedly lifted the spirits of CSK fans, his on-field performance was equally noteworthy. Despite batting in a shaky CSK innings, Dhoni played a crucial knock, scoring a fiery 28 runs off just 9 balls.
His innings included three boundaries and two towering sixes, with the final one a colossal 101-meter blast off the bowling of Yash Thakur. Unfortunately, Dhoni’s heroics were not enough to secure victory for CSK, as LSG chased down the target with 6 balls to spare.
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