IPL 2021: 5 best moments in IPL history

2. MS Dhoni’s sixes helps Chennai to qualify

Chennai was on the brink of securing a semi-final spot in 2010, after ending as the finalists and semi-finalists in the 2008 and 2009 seasons respectively. Between them and a third successive knockout qualification, stood an uphill task of beating Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). Chennai faced them in a do-or-die clash in Dharamsala, Punjab’s adopted home. 

Batting first, Punjab scored 192 for 3. Chennai found themselves in a tricky position with 44 runs still required from 18 balls. Skipper MS Dhoni stood at one end. When Chennai entered the final two overs, they still needed 29 runs. Dhoni hit two boundaries in that over to bring down the equation to 16 runs from the last over. He hit a four and took two runs off the second ball. 

With 10 needed off four balls, Dhoni launched two huge sixes off the bowling of Irfan Pathan. Both the sixes seemed bigger than the other. As the ball went up, almost disappearing in the Dharamsala skies, Chennai celebrated their qualification. They went on to win the tournament and won another title the next year. Those two huge sixes by MSD are still etched in the memories of his fans.