The match ended unfavourably for the home team as they could only manage a total of 144/6 after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Shivam Dube (48 not out) and Devon Conway (30) emerged as the top scorers for CSK, while Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy claimed two wickets each for KKR.
In response, Deepak Chahar quickly dismissed three top-order batters from KKR, but half-centuries from captain Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh guided KKR to a six-wicket victory.
Following the match, Dhoni performed a special lap of honour, expressing gratitude to all his fans for their unwavering support. This act sparked speculation as to whether it was Dhoni’s way of bidding farewell to his home fans. However, according to CSK CEO, the team believes Dhoni will continue playing beyond this season.
“We believe MS Dhoni is going to play next season as well so I hope fans will continue to support us like every time (translation from Tamil),” Viswanathan said in a video shares the franchise of their social media accounts.
Dhoni has been batting in the No. 8 position this season, facing only a few deliveries and aiming to hit them out of the park. This approach is due to the 41-year-old wicketkeeper-batter playing with some nagging injuries, particularly in his knee.
As CSK stands on the verge of securing a place in the playoffs, they still need a victory in their final league game against Delhi Capitals (DC) to guarantee their spot in the IPL 2023 knockout stage. The outcome of the match will determine their fate as they strive to advance further in the tournament.
For latest cricket news & updates, visit CricketTimes.com.