MS Dhoni, battling back pain, fails to win KXIP encounter but CSK fans aren't complaining

Mahendra SIngh Dhoni did fail to take CSK over the finishing line but his effort made the fans forget about the narrow defeat against KXIP.

Reported by: India TV Sports Desk, New Delhi [ Published on: April 16, 2018 11:04 IST ]

MS Dhoni's unbeaten 79 was not enough for CSK to pull off the heist against KXIP.

Photo:BCCI IMAGE

A grimacing Mahendra Singh Dhoni pulled off a near impossible win for Chennai Super Kings before Kings XI Punjab scraped through with a dramatic four-run victory in the Indian Premier League 2018 at the PCA IS Bindra Stadium on Sunday night. (WATCH KXIP vs CSK HIGHLIGHTS)

Dhoni, battling back pain, took the match into the last over with a blistering 79 off 44 balls. However, his valiant effort did not prove to be enough as CSK ended at 193 for five in response to KXIP's 197 for seven. (MATCH SCORECARD)

The Super Kings needed as many as 76 off the last 30 balls and Dhoni got his team almost over the line with an innings comprising six fours and five sixes.

With 17 needing off the final over, pacer Mohit Sharma did the job for KXIP, who recorded their second win in three games this season. It was the first loss of the season for the Dhoni-led team.

However, Dhoni's exhibition of powerful hitting made the CSK fans forget the narrow defeat.

The ex-India captain's effort was lauded by cricket enthusiasts, former and present cricketers, who took to Twitter to sing praises for the 36-year-old.