Punjab Kings bowler Rishi Dhawan defended 27 runs against Chennai Super Kings star MS Dhoni in yesterday’s Indian Premier League clash to guide his side to an 11-run victory. Kagiso Rabada credited the 32-year-old for holding his nerves in the pressure situation.
The 32-year-old was playing his first match in the tournament after six years. He did a decent job in the first three overs, conceding 24 runs and picking the wicket of Shivam Dube. His moment of truth occured in the final over of the match when CSK needed 27 runs to win with an in-form Dhoni on strike.
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Dhawan’s first ball was deposited into the stands while the next one was wide. The pressure was mounting, with a sea of yellow supporters cheering for arguably the greatest finisher in the game. Dhawan bowled a brilliant yorker on the next delivery. On the third ball, he got lucky as Dhoni skewed a drifting-down delivery towards midwicket. Dhoni’s wicket silenced the crowd at Wankhede Stadium.
“Rishi, coming back and bowling that final over. He put his hand up. It’s still a bit nerve-wracking when you’re bowling at MS Dhoni, and there’s not one red shirt in the crowd, only yellow shirts chanting his name, but he held his nerve and came out on top. Huge credit to him,”
Rabada said.
It was the South African himself along with Arshdeep Singh, who set up the win with incredible death overs bowling in overs 17-19. Arshdeep conceded only six and eight runs in 17th and 19th over, while Rabada gave away six runs in the 18th and cleaned up Ambati Rayudu, who had hammered 39-ball 78.
Rabada was all praise for Arshdeep as well, saying he has been the best bowler in end overs.
“Arsh (Arshdeep) has been the best death bowler in this comp; that’s what the stats say. He’s a youngster coming in, has got a lot of drive, a lot of ambition as well,”
he said.
