M.S. Dhoni livened up the ACA-VDCA stadium once again. His team Rising Pune Supergiants, a new team in the league, has not done well in the IPL 2016 but Dhoni made the spectators at the half-filled stadium revisit his April 5, 2005 blitz against Pakistan in a ODI, smashing 64 runs off 32 balls, with 23 of them coming off the last over. The end was more exciting as six runs were needed off the last ball and MSD carted the ball over the boundary.
Thus the match between RPS and Kings XI Punjab, the two bottom placed teams that had no relevance to the hot race for the top four knockout berths, did not meander into a dull affair, and MSD’s team pushed the rival to the bottom of the table.
Earlier R. Ashwin turned out his best show with his spin to claim four wickets.
Many did not turn up to watch the game but those present had the opportunity to enjoy a thrilling game and an exciting finish. The match commenced on time after the Sun came blazing down on the city after two days of rain and cloudy weather.
The cheer girls of RPS were quite busy as the game was coming to an end and had to perform their act, including the Lungi dance, several times as Dhoni did not give much time to the Kings XI Punjab.
The port city was not on the radar of IPL 2016 but thanks to a court judgment banning matches in the drought-hit Maharashtra, six matches had been thrust on it and RPS and Mumbai Indians had made the venue their “home”. This season also saw the trend of the venue not being very good for the home team, when RPS and MI won two of the three matches they had played here. The locals were in one way disappointed that the Dhoni-led team was bogged down by injuries to four of its top players.
