Dhoni Slams 37* Off 16 On IPL 2024 Batting Debut, Internet On Overdrive

Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) icon MS Dhoni batted for the first time in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) when he walked out in the middle during the game against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Visakhapatnam. Dhoni didn't get the chance to bat in CSK's first two matches, having demoted himself in the order. However, with CSK in a losing position after going six wickets down against DC, Dhoni finally walked out to bat amid raucous reception from the crowd in Vizag.

On the very first ball he faced, Dhoni hit Mukesh Kumar for a boundary. He ended the over with another boundary.

Here is how the fans reacted to it:

MS DHONI SMASHED A BOUNDARY IN THE FIRST BALL IN IPL 2024. pic.twitter.com/RO2D6jngiP — Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 31, 2024

CSK fans at Vishakapatnam :-
"Dhoni Dhoni"
"Thala Thala"
"Mahi Mahi"#CSKvsDC #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/adkxsMzQYp — Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) March 31, 2024

DHONI HIT THE FIRST BALL TO FOUR..!!.
Fans are getting crazy .#DCvCSK pic.twitter.com/WBURv7M0Ca — Amresh (@AkRo_45) March 31, 2024

Earlier, comeback man Rishabh pant announced his arrival with a superb fifty after opening duo of David Warner and Prithvi Shaw provided the foundation as Delhi Capitals posted a competitive 191 for 5 against Chennai Super Kings in their IPL game on Sunday.

Opting to bat, Warner and Shaw shared a 93-run opening stand but the highlight of the day was Pant's 32-ball 51, which gave them the impetus in the end.

Pant, who came into the tournament after recovering from a life-threatening road mishap in December 2022, belted four boundaries and three maximums for his first fifty in 15 months.

The in-form Warner slammed five boundaries and three maximums during his 35-ball 52, his 110th T20 fifty, which equalled Chris Gayle's record of most fifty-plus scores in T20s.

Playing his first game this season, Shaw, who hasn't been able to live up to his immense talent, once again reminded everyone of his boundary-hitting skills, smashing two sixes and four boundaries in his 27-ball 43.

However, pacer Matheesha Pathirana produced a sensational catch to dismiss Warner and then returned to strike twice in three balls to bring CSK back into the game.

But Pant, who has looked good in his two earlier innings, bide his time initially and then exploded to take them close to a 200-total.