Twitter Reactions: Dhoni masterclass goes in vain, KXIP wins thriller in Mohali

The rivalry between the Kings XI Punjab and the Chennai Super Kings has been one of the most iconic ones in the history of the Indian Premier League. Every time the two sides have faced off, they have come up with some serious entertainment. On most occasions, it has been a high scoring run fest on the cards for the fans. And now, in the 2018 edition, the first face off between the two sides proved to be no exception either.

The venue in Mohali was packed to the capacity buzzing to the fullest of their capacity. They were entertained thoroughly with the home side scoring a big total of 197 after having been asked to bat first. In the run chase, the Chennai Super Kings got very close to the target owing to the Dhoni masterclass. They fell short by just 4 runs in the end.

Earlier in the game, it was the opening pair of the Kings XI Punjab – Chris Gayle and KL Rahul – that wreaked havoc at the venue. The news of Gayle’s inclusion in the playing eleven itself made a lot of buzz in the crowds. The duo got off to a flying start, adding 96 runs for the first wicket. Rahul was the first to be dismissed on 37 (22). Chris Gayle went on to score 63 off 33 deliveries with 7 fours and four sixes to his name.

Later in the game, the KXIP middle order contributed with handy cameos. Yuvraj Singh, Mayank Agarwal, and Karun Nair played key roles in the same. However, as the innings progressed, the speed certainly go down a great deal and the KXIP camp failed to cross the 200-run mark.

In the run chase, the new opening pair of the Chennai Super Kings – Shane Watson and Murali Vijay – failed to deliver on the day. Ambati Rayudu kept the scorecard ticking with his timely 49 off 35 deliveries. Once Rayudu was dismissed, MS Dhoni was the one who played the lone ranger in the game. Dhoni almost won the game for his side on the day.

With 17 needed off the final over, many believed that Dhoni would cross the line for his side. However, the CSK ended up falling short by 4 runs. Dhoni’s unbeaten 79 off 44 deliveries was not enough for his side on the day. Kings XI Punjab registered their second win off the season.

Here is how the fans reacted to the match:

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