IPL 2020: ‘It was all just personal runs,’ Gambhir on Dhoni’s low scoring rate against Rajasthan Royals

IPL 2020: ‘It was all just personal runs,’ Gambhir on Dhoni’s low scoring rate against Rajasthan Royals

MS Dhoni 4

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni faced criticism on Wednesday for his unexpected slow start in Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) unsuccessful run Chase in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) against Rajasthan Royals (RR).

The Yellow Army skipper sent up IPL debutant Rituraj Gaikwad and young England all-rounder Sam Curran ahead of him in the chase of 217 runs at Sharjah.

Although, coming into 14th over, the veteran cricketer scored just 10 runs off his first 13 balls while Faf du Plessis was seen playing a blistering knock of 72 runs, studded with seven sixes.

Dhoni, who announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15th, smashed three successive sixes in the final over but the side lost the match by 16 runs.

‘It was just all personal runs:’ says Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir

Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Gautam Gambhir also expressed his views, saying Dhoni’s sixes were all “personal runs”.

“This is not what you call leading from the front. Batting at No 7 when you’re chasing what…213 (217)? The game was over. Faf was probably the lone warrior,” Former India opener Gautam Gambhir told ESPN cricinfo.

“Yes, you can talk about MS Dhoni’s last over, but it was of no use, to be honest. It was just all personal runs,” he said.

CSK skipper MS Dhoni

Meanwhile, Dhoni held a different idea and said that the 39-year-old wanted to give opportunities to young guns of the team.

“I haven’t batted for a long time. 14-day quarantine (in the United Arab Emirates) doesn’t help,” Dhoni, who remained unbeaten on 29, said in the post-match chat.

“Also wanted to try different things, give opportunities to Sam. Have the opportunity to try different things. If it doesn’t work, you can always go back to your strengths,” he said. Chennai coach Stephen Fleming told reporters, “MS is a specialist at the end of the innings, always has been.”

But the statements cut little ice with fans who criticised their cricketing hero. One twitter user said, “Next time Dhoni should warm-up before the match and not during the match.”

Here are some Twitter reactions:

https://twitter.com/AshwinY99837698/status/1308471366060896257?s=19

Also read: IPL 2020: ‘6666’ – Jofra, the soothsayer, hits CSK out of the park as his old tweet resurfaces