Social media reacts to MS Dhoni and his vintage fifty in IPL 2022 opener vs KKR

Classic innings from MS Dhoni in the IPL 2022 opener mesmerised cricket fans all over the globe as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend blasted an unbeaten half-century at the Wankhede Stadium.

Dhoni lit up the Saturday (March 26) night with a vintage finish to the innings against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), smashing an unbeaten 50 off 38 deliveries to take CSK to a fighting total from a position of strife.

Walking into bat with CSK struggling at 61/5 near the close of the 11th over, the great wicketkeeper-batter came to the party and hit KKR for 7 fours and 1 maximum in his innings to take his team to 131/5.

It wasn’t MS Dhoni at his absolute best, but a little example there at the end that the 40-year-old still has enough left in his kitty for the oppositions to feel beware.

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MS Dhoni rewind the clock with bat in hand in IPL 2022 opener.

MS Dhoni’s brilliant 50* off 38 gets fans excited

MS Dhoni’s knock also broke a barren run for the legend in the IPL as the former CSK skipper produced his first half-century in three seasons. The mighty right-hander had suffered a major dip in his returns over the last two IPL seasons, in particular.

But he turned things around for himself at the start of the new season, promising his fans a lot more in the matches to follow. They will savour this knock for now, though, and got the social media buzzing with their tweets the moment Dhoni got going.

Here is how twitter reacted to MS Dhoni’s classic effort:

That leg glance by MSD or 'The Nataraj' shot as it's called, was absolutely pleasing. #CSKvKKR #IPL2022

— Jay (@bhavsarJ2_0) March 26, 2022

MS Dhoni at the end of the 17th over: 15*(25)

Dhoni at the end of the 20th over: 50*(38)

35 runs off just 13 deliveries in the last three overs.#CSKvKKR | #IPL2022

— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) March 26, 2022

That was brilliant inning from Dhoni. Not easy not playing thru out the year and produce the inning like this!

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 26, 2022

Shastri comes back at the commentary box. Dhoni finishes off in style tonight….

Co-related?

— Sandipan Banerjee (@im_sandipan) March 26, 2022

Chennai Super Kings was 84 for 5 from 17 overs then posted 131 for 5 from 20 overs – Thanks to main man, MS Dhoni. pic.twitter.com/X3yBrT9Vhb

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 26, 2022

Well played by @msdhoni.
He started slowly but used his experience and a combination of composure, aggression and common sense to get @ChennaiIPL to where they are.

Their bowlers will have to bowl exceedingly well to defend the total on this pitch. #CSKvKKR pic.twitter.com/BmfKRyDJOd

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 26, 2022

MS Dhoni collected a total of only 314 runs from his 23 innings at a strike-rate of 112.54 from the last two editions of the IPL played on surfaces in India and UAE. The batter struggled to put the ball off the square consistently, showing a genuine signs of decline with his powerhitting game.

An innings the like the one against KKR at Wankhede would, therefore, be a reason to smile for the CSK think-tank, who would want their veteran keeper to rewind the clock from time to time and come out all guns blazing in what could well be his last IPL.