MS Dhoni smashed the ball into the crowd seven times — including to seal the winning runs — in a match that racked up a record number of Indian Premier League sixes as his Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore to go top of the points table.
Dhoni hit an unbeaten 34-ball 70 while opener Ambati Rayudu hit eight sixes in his 82 as CSK passed RCB’s 205 for eight with two balls to spare.
Dhoni hit all-rounder Corey Anderson over long on for six to claim the brilliant victory.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli’s RCB are in a slump with just two wins and the IPL season now half gone.
Kohli will need to study his tactics after his batsmen delivered — South Africans Quinton De Kock (53) and AB de Villiers (68) plundered 103 for the second wicket in under nine overs — but his bowlers failed.
Chasing a huge total in their 20 overs, CSK lost opener Shane Watson with just eight runs scored and then fell to 74-4 before a 101-run partnership between Rayudu and Dhoni turned the game.
Rayudu was dismissed in the 18th over but Dhoni saw his side home.
Here’s how cricketing world reacted to MS Dhoni’s masterclass:
http://twitter.com/david_willey/status/989211493236400128
But seriously. . 🙌🏻
— Erin Holland (@erinvholland)
MS DHONI!!! What an innings!
— Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5)
Incredible MS Dhoni! The master class continues with another outstanding chase .
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum)
MS Dhoni yet again redefining age, class and everything. It's so amazing to see him play this way. They call him 'Thala' for a reason and he showed us all who's the BOSS 😉 on 🔥 at the Chinnasamy
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani)
Thala 🙌🏾
— Carlos Brathwaite (@CRBrathwaite26)
Vintage .. been lucky to witness a few knocks like this for over the years, not just the striking ,but his ability to take a few players along, and making them be the best that they can be 👏🏼
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath)
All I can say is wow!! What a game of cricket!!! and we’re simply sensational after another special. Great atmosphere at the Chinnaswamy Stadium
— Mike Hussey (@mhussey393)
Oh my God….please let me sleep🙏 why did you have to make so awesome, the real universe boss and Mr Iceman you have me so excited for the rest of this years I can’t sleep
— Matthew Hayden AM (@HaydosTweets)
= 🐐finisher!!!!!! WOW!!!! Simply incredible.
— Sam Billings (@sambillings)
Nothing can go wrong till is at the crease. Vintage stuff from captain cool!! An excellent innings from to set things up for us. All in all a great win for ! Keep it boys!
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina)
Kattula vettayadara singham pathiruppa kakkisattai potta singham pathiruppa manja sattai potta mahendra singham pathurukkiya ? Oongi adicha 110meter dhooram 6 da pakkaraya ? Ithu posukkara kootam konjam thalli nillu kanna vandiya poduda whistle
— Imran Tahir (@ImranTahirSA)
Kamaal hi karte rehte hain MS Dhoni. Brilliant again.
Well done .— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag)
The King is still alive ….. Incredible …..
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
Wow what a finish by CSK. Shows the value of experience at the death…
— Albie Morkel (@albiemorkel)
Sensational from once again. To take it till the end, win from any situation and finish it off in style, thy name is Dhoni. Really brilliant innings from Rayudu too.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif)
How good was and last night …wow.Seemed almost impossible to win that game .MS still the best finisher in the game
— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307)
That was outrageous.
— Isa Guha (@isaguha)
http://twitter.com/danevn81/status/989209512535052289
Absolutely superb ! This is why you're known as the best finisher! And a smashing innings from ! CSK all the way!
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)
http://twitter.com/katecross16/status/989207982381719558
Boy oh boy, last nights match didn't disappoint one bit. I don't know how does it & remain so cool under pressure. surely have to be the favourites of this year's IPL?!
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93)
It was a pleasure to commentate on that tonight! MSD is a genius and people who would ever write someone like him off may be feeling very silly over the last few weeks…
— Jonny Bairstow (@jbairstow21)
Mahi mahi ve… vintage dhoni no doubt abt that n Rayudu is playing like a dream. Rcb need some death bowlers n good all rounder who can support in batting lower down the order n get the team 3-4 overs consistently
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
The Dhoni shot I loved the best was that six in the 19th over off Siraj’s yorker over backward point. Destroyed him as a bowler and paved the way for the win.👏👏👏
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar)
U got to love Dhoni. What a knock.
— Ravi Bopara (@ravibopara)
. It's MSD again finishing yet another win with a Six. Well played hard luck
— Vinod Kambli (@vinodkambli349)
He writes his own scripts. “I Am Legend”
— Alan Wilkins (@alanwilkins22)
The legend grows.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Oh my god! Dhoni is genius!!!! CSK beat RCB by knocking off 200 !!
— Mark Ramprakash (@MarkRamprakash)
WHAT A GAME!! Best finisher in the game… DHONI 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 such a good competition!
— Ben Duckett (@BenDuckett1)
Well past Midnight and a big match day today
But when it's , its hard to resist
A terrific Game of Cricket and Bhai finishes off in style
— Manish Pandey (@im_manishpandey)
If there’s ever a book on cricket, Dhoni must write the finishing chapter. Unbelievable. Take a bow 🙇♂️
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI. Wow. Just, wow.
— Sanjana Ganesan (@SanjanaGanesan)
Unbelievable! Another match winning and sensational innings by along with . A win to remember for long! Congratulations .
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh)
Vintage .. been lucky to witness a few knocks like this for over the years, not just the striking ,but his ability to take a few players along, and making them be the best that they can be 👏🏼
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath)
U beauty u always mine captain maahi bhai legend 👏👏and bhai top knock god bless you 👏👏😊🙏
— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3)
Paji. This is greatness at its heights. Bowing down to you. 🙏
What an amazing finish. Hats off!!!— Sandeep sharma (@sandeep25a)
That was something different ! Something special !! Makes it look so easy ! Thala 😎🙏🏻
— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket)
Wow!! What a game in !! There's one & only 🙏 Period !!! 🙏
— Vijay Shankar (@vijayshankar260)
It was a delight watching three amazing batting performances in a single match for and and the ever reliable .
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha)
very difficult to find a better game reader than can't emphasize enough the importance of Dhoni at the non-striker end
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7)
