MS Dhoni, renowned for his composed demeanor on the field, displayed a rare outburst of emotion during last year’s IPL final. The incident occurred after Ravindra Jadeja’s heroic performance guided Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fifth IPL title.
In the rain-affected match, CSK faced a daunting task in the final over, needing 10 runs off the last two balls. Jadeja stepped up to the plate, smashing medium-pacer Mohit Sharma for a six and a four, turning the tide in CSK’s favor.
Dhoni’s reaction to Jadeja’s heroics was uncharacteristic. He embraced and lifted Jadeja, a gesture that left an indelible mark on fans. Recalling the moment during a promotional event, Jadeja joked that he might be the only person besides Dhoni’s wife, Sakshi, to receive such a lift.
Dhoni praised Jadeja’s batting, expressing his confidence in his ability to achieve the target. “I was quite confident about you know Jaddu has the talent and mindset to achieve the target,” Dhoni said. “It was a very memorable innings.”
Dhoni acknowledged the difficulty of Jadeja’s task, particularly the sixes he hit before the final ball. “Looking at the TV, it looks easy but now that I bat down the order, I know how difficult it is to get that kind of elevation and win it for six,” Dhoni said.
The emotions ran high after CSK’s victory, with Dhoni expressing his gratitude for Jadeja’s contribution. “The emotions were very high. So a big round of applause for Jaddu for the way he batted,” Dhoni said.
Jadeja’s performance in the final showcased his talent and determination, while Dhoni’s emotional outburst highlighted the close bond between the two players and the significance of the victory for CSK.
