5 Instances where MS Dhoni showed his smartness on the field

3. Rising Pune Supergiant vs Mumbai Indians in Pune, 2017

Rising Pune Supergiant began their campaign in IPL 2017 against Mumbai Indians in their home ground Pune. The franchise made a change of captaincy ahead of the season as Steve Smith took over from MS Dhoni. After electing to bowl first, the Pune team contained the Mumbai Indians during the middle-overs. But a 30-run final over with Hardik Pandya at the crease powered their total to 184/8. Pune got off to a quick start in the chase as Ajinkya Rahane scored an aggressive 60 from 34 deliveries.

The new skipper Smith anchored the chase while the required rate slowly crept to 10. Smith also completed his fifty by the time Dhoni arrived at the crease in the 16th over. Pune was 20 runs away from a win in the final two overs which were to be bowled by Jasprit Bumrah and one among Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya. Bumrah gave away only two runs in the first four balls of the 19th over including consecutive dot balls to Dhoni. However, MSD found a boundary on the following delivery.

The equation came down to 14 from 7 balls when Dhoni skied the last ball of the penultimate over towards long-on. Dhoni, aware of the chance of getting out, stopped Smith from crossing over which could put a new batsman at the crease for the final over. But Tim Southee spilt an easy chance and Dhoni-Smith pair realized it and picked up a single. Pollard began the last over giving away only 3 runs in the first three balls but Smith smashed back to back sixes to finish off the chase.