 |
| File Photo |
In a dramatic turn of events at the Indian Premier League 2024, Punjab Kings' fast bowler Harshal Patel achieved a milestone by becoming the first bowler to dismiss MS Dhoni this season. The momentous occasion came during the match against Chennai Super Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. Patel executed a flawless slower yorker, leaving the former CSK captain dismissed for a golden duck.
This rare dismissal marked a significant deviation in Dhoni's T20 career, as he found himself walking out at No. 9 for CSK. Despite his remarkable batting prowess this season, which included scoring 110 runs off just 48 balls with a boundary every three balls, Dhoni was sent lower down the batting order, with Shardul Thakur and Mitchell Santner batting ahead of him.
The showdown between Patel and Dhoni captivated spectators as the former delivered a masterful off-cutter to dismiss Shardul Thakur before facing the CSK legend. With a strategic slower ball off-cutter aimed at the stumps, Patel left Dhoni baffled. Despite Dhoni's attempt to connect with the ball, his weak swipe to leg missed its mark, leading to the unsettling sight of his off stump being pegged back. The rare dismissal for a golden duck left CSK supporters in shock and silence.
This marked Dhoni's fourth golden duck in his IPL career and his first since the IPL 2023 final against Gujarat Titans last year in Ahmedabad.
Despite his remarkable achievement in dismissing Dhoni, Patel opted for a muted celebration, highlighting his respect for the cricketing legend. Instead of extravagant jubilation, Patel simply raised his arms aloft as his teammates celebrated the crucial wicket. Patel later explained his decision, expressing his deep admiration for Dhoni and his reluctance to celebrate the dismissal.
Patel emerged as one of the standout performers for Punjab Kings in the match, finishing with figures of 3 for 24. Reflecting on his performance, Patel attributed his success to the advantageous conditions of playing a day game, which allowed for ball reversal due to the rough square. He also emphasized the importance of practicing variations, particularly the slower delivery, which proved to be a potent weapon against batters.
© www.cricketxpedia.com
