MS Dhoni came out to bat at No. 9 for the first time ever in his T20 career during the IPL 2024 match between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings on Sunday. Since making debut way back in 2006, Dhoni has always batted between No. 3 and No, 7 with his move to No. 8 coming fairly recently during IPL 2023. However, despite being slotted to bat at No. 8, he came to bat after Shardul Thakur and his stay at the crease was extremely short as Harshal Patel dismissed the veteran star for a golden duck.
During his career, Dhoni has batted the most at No. 5 followed by No. 4 and No. 6. He has also scored the most runs (2602) in his career while batting at No. 5 in T20 cricket.
During the 19th over of the CSK innings, Dhoni was completely foxed by a slower delivery from Harshal Patel that dipped rapidly and left him completely flabbergasted. The ball went right through his defense and crashed into the off-stump to leave CSK and Dhoni fans shell-shocked.
This was the first time that Dhoni was dismissed by any bowler in IPL 2024 with his previous dismissal in the last match against PBKS being a run-out.
"Wicket was on drier side. I have too much respect for him to celebrate when I get him out (on Dhoni). One of the advantages of playing a day game is that the square is quite rough. So the ball starts reversing. In my first over it was reversing. It's all about the feel of that delivery (slower one). More you bowl the better you get. Most batters don't pick it. Have been practicing in the nets, and when it comes out it gives you great results," Harshal said when asked about his wicket celebration.