Don’t know if they believe in my theory or not’: MS Dhoni reveals masterstroke advice for bowlers getting hit for sixes

Chennai Super Kings resumed winning ways in IPL 2022 with a 13-run victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Pune on Sunday, with the return of MS Dhoni as captain. After CSK put up a good batting showing, recording 202/2 in 20 overs, quick bowler Mukesh Choudhary stole the show by picking up 4/46 and bowling the crucial 20th over of the innings. By the completion of the 19th over, the game was already gone, as LSG needed to score 38 runs in the last over. Nonetheless, Mukesh needed to guarantee that no additional deliveries were bowled, and despite going for 24 runs per over, he ensured CSK’s victory. Dhoni was back to his eloquent best after the victory, as the CSK skipper spoke at length about the game. MSD discussed the value of a high total and offered his million-dollar tip to bowlers who get smacked for sixes.

“When you score 200, it really comes down to 175-180 in 19 overs. It’s important to try something different as a bowler. I always told my bowlers, you may get hit for 4 sixes in an over, but the 2 balls that you save – ultimately in a high-scoring game – those are the 2 deliveries that will help you win the game. Because a lot of bowlers, after getting 3-4 sixes, they will be like let’s get done with it but that one boundary or even instead of sixes if you get hit for 2 fours that will help you in a game. ” I don’t know if they believe in my theory or not, but it really works,” Dhoni said during the post-match press conference.

“I think it was a good score to defend. It’s one of those coincidences where we got off to a good start and forced the bowlers to bowl the areas where we wanted to hit. The kind of target we got was a very good one. The phase that really worked for us was where the spinners were bowling after 6 overs. We have had quite a few good batting performances; we have given a couple of overs that went for 25-26 runs.”

The victory ensured CSK’s survival in the IPL 2022, and despite sitting ninth on the points table with six points, the four-time winners had a slim chance of entering the Playoffs.