NEW DELHI: Dejection and frustration were clearly evident on Mahendra Singh Dhoni's face as he watched his team Chennai Super Kings get eliminated from
IPL 2024
after a 27-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.
Defending champions CSK needed to score over 201 to qualify for the playoffs and came pretty close with Dhoni and
Ravindra Jadeja
launching a fierce assault toward the end.
The five-time champions needed 17 runs off the final over.
But RCB pacer Yash Dayal, who had been hit for five consecutive sixes by KKR's Rinku Singh in IPL 2023, managed to hold his nerves and despite being struck for a towering six by Dhoni on the first ball, Dayal sealed the thrilling win and a place in playoffs for RCB.
After the match, Dhoni, who has guided CSK to five IPL titles, was packing his kit bag when RCB's young spinner
Mayank Dagar
approached him with a bat, requesting an autograph. Dhoni happily signed the bat.
Dagar shared the heartwarming video on his social media account.
Coming at No.8, Dhoni scored 25 runs off 13 balls, including three fours and a six, before Dayal sent him back to the pavilion, crushing CSK's hopes of progressing to the playoffs.
In the IPL 2024 season, Dhoni scored 161 runs at a strike rate of 220.54.
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