The Chennai Super Kings season started chaotic when two days before the start of IPL 2022 it was announced that MS Dhoni handed over the captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja. It wasn’t what CSK fans wanted to hear and that too right before the season started. The defending champions were also on sixs and sevens, losing their first four games. They finally got their first win when they defeated RCB. After playing eight games, CSK had won only two. The only team worse off than them were the record champions Mumbai Indians. Then came another big announcement, Dhoni was back at the helm as Jadeja wanted to focus on his game. The legendary wicket-keeper had accepted the role for the greater good of the team. Dhoni’s first assignment as captain in IPL 2022 was against the high-flying SunRisers Hyderabad, who had won five of their previous six matches.
But with Dhoni leading CSK again, everything seemed to fall into place again. Failing stars suddenly took shape again as Dhoni’s golden touch worked its magic again.
In the end, CSK took a 13-point win over SRH, their third win of the season. And while it hasn’t lifted them out of their penultimate position, the air of optimism is back in the CSK camp.
After CSK’s victory and Dhoni’s stunning return as CSK captain, Twitter came alive.
#dhoni back..!! #CSK back..!!! pic.twitter.com/P3e5OAQqQ9
— (@varusarath5) May 1, 2022
8L people watched Dhoni’s presentation live after the game. It won’t even exceed 5L for other captains.
— ‘ (@Ashwin_tweetz) May 1, 2022
CSK after Dhoni resumed his captaincy pic.twitter.com/pYmNmxr2bP
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 1, 2022
Devon Conway Pre-IPL: “I wanted to play as captain under the great MS”
MS Dhoni returned as skipper and Conway returned to the XI to fulfill his dream of finally playing under MSD captaincy
In fact, he scored 85* (55) to help MSD-run CSK win a match. Dream stuff pic.twitter.com/SxWINcaN9R
— Sivy Kanefied (@Sivy_KW578) May 2, 2022
Ruturaj and Conway under Dhoni captaincy: pic.twitter.com/8eNtU7cW8C
— Aarohi Tripathy (@aarohi_vns) May 1, 2022
Captain cool is back @MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/kgJjW2JTRm
— Dhoni Army TN(@DhoniArmyTN) May 2, 2022
LEADER WITH A REASON#MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/wN86jgWzmt
— Nivetha (@Nivi_Dhoni7) May 1, 2022
If young cricketers are your fans, then you are a legend
If legends are a fan of yours, then you are MS Dhoni…. pic.twitter.com/PmpQHrmTUz— CSK THUG 1 (@thug1one) May 2, 2022
#Jadeja after seeing Ruturaj perform under Dhoni’s Captaincy… pic.twitter.com/mkCZ40bLmN
— SHASHI(@memedico_) May 1, 2022
Some things never change @MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/0B1nUhTn4N
— Dhoni Army TN(@DhoniArmyTN) May 2, 2022
MS dhoni kingdom #MSDhoni #CSKvSRH #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/BhTYTbjkN5
— Ryka Naik (@NaikRyka) May 2, 2022
On Sunday, last season’s Orange Cap winner Ruturaj Gaikwad awoke from his slumber to whip SRH bowlers to all parts of Pune. However, his knock ended in heartbreak when the opener fell short of what would have been a deserved century.
On the other hand, returning Devon Conway also made his presence felt, hitting an unbeaten 85 from 55 balls as CSK went to 202 for two in 20 overs.
In the second innings, Mukesh Choudhary took four wickets, and despite Nicholas Pooran’s 33-ball 64 not out, SRH fell far short of goal.