Dhoni’s real masterstroke other than batting in CSK’s hattrick victory

The Chennai Super Kings secured their third win in as many games on Sunday in their thrilling encounter with the Rajasthan Royals.  Batting first at Chepauk the home team was tottering at 3 for 27 when the Thala and Chinna Thala came together on the crease and the rest is history.  Captain Dhoni led from the front to take his team to a tricky 175/5 with his own score being 75.

Much has been talked about and written about MSD’s audacious batting that dented the confidence of the opposition.  But the real genius of Thala came to the fore when he handed the ball to Dwayne Bravo to bowl the last over with RR needing a very gettable 12 runs with monster hitters Ben Stokes and Joffra Archer at the crease.  Though Bravo is the best in business when it comes to death bowling he had gone for 19 runs in his previous over which actually changed the game in the opposition’s favor.

Most captains would not have gone for Bravo in the final over under the given circumstances but Dhoni is not most captains and he delivered his true masterstroke in the match to bag yet another win.