As MS Dhoni said at the post-match presentation that he is not “complaining” for not getting to bat as long as the top-order does its job and gets the victories for CSK in IPL 2023. That, however, doesn’t mean that Dhoni is having any less impact in the match. If not with the bat, he is doing it with the gloves in hand from behind the wicket. He contributed in all facets of the game that a keeper can on Friday.
Fleming said during the post-match conference after CSK registered a 7-wicket win –
“It’s a natural talent. I don’t think he gets enough credit for his keeping but to be honest, he is an absolute craftsman, an absolute masterclass behind the stumps and often goes unnoticed with all the things he does.” CSK head coach Stephen Fleming went on to terms it as a “masterclass”. The former New Zealand skipper also added that Dhoni “doesn’t get enough” credit for his keeping.
In the 13th over of the SRH innings, Dhoni took a sharp catch to send back SRH captain Aiden Markram off the bowling of Maheesh Theekshana. The catch also helped Dhoni go past Quinton de Kock and become the keeper with the most catches in T20 cricket (208).
Dhoni himself was pretty impressed with his catch –
“I felt it was a fantastic catch. I was in such a wrong position. Just because we wear gloves, people think it’s easy. A long time back I still remember one game – Rahul Dravid was keeping and he caught one like that. With your skill set, you can’t take a catch like that. You have to be in a very wrong position to be able to take that kind of a catch.”
