MS Dhoni, Faf du Plessis, Chennai Super Kings, CSK, IPL 2018
MS Dhoni (left) and Faf du Plessis (Image courtesy: AFP)

MS Dhoni s sublime form has ensured Chennai Super Kings (CSK) domination at the top spot in VIVO IPL 2018. Dhoni is in the fifth spot in top run-getters, having smashed 286 runs from 5 matches at 71.50. He struck those runs at an incredible strike rate of 169.2. Dhoni s power-hitting in CSK s last 2 matches reminded critics that he is far from done.

On Monday, he belted a 22-ball 51 not out to guide CSK to 211 for 4 against Delhi Daredevils (DD). CSK won the match by 13 runs to reclaim the top spot in the points table. Teammate Faf du Plessis, in the post-match ceremony, spoke about Dhoni s domination and elaborated on the CSK skipper s technique.

He (Dhoni) is in really good form at the moment, so its extremely tough to bowl to him when he is in a form like that. He has got such a big arch and if you want to bowl wide he can still hit you to the leg side, Du Plessis said. He has got a lot of options, so it makes life difficult for a bowler and a captain because he can hit any ball to wherever he wants to. That kind of form is obviously very important to us , he added.

Impressive Rayudu

Du Plessis, who opened the batting, scored 33 and shared a century stand with Shane Watson, also heaped praises on Orange Cap holder Ambati Rayudu. After Watson s 40-ball 78, Rayudu struck a breezy 24-ball 41 and supported Dhoni. Rayudu, who opened in the previous encounters, was pushed to No.4 this time.

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Praising Rayudu s flexibility, du Plessis added, Rayadu has delivered for CSK when asked to open and even he was required to bat at the number four position. Rayadu’s flexibility has really impressed me. I have really enjoyed watching him bat in this IPL. The ability to come in and score boundaries from the first ball is a very difficult skill. That ability to come at four and five and score a boundary straight-away, not a lot of people can do that.

With Suresh (Raina) at three and (Rayadu) at four, if we get off to a solid start, the two can just come in and play their natural game which can be dangerous for the opposition. So we are fortunate that we have got a lot of options in the batting unit.

CSK will take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) next at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. In their previous encounter, CSK chased down a total against KKR in excess of 200.