IPL 2023: Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has doffed his hat to MS Dhoni after the 41-year-old led his team Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to the final of IPL 2023 on Tuesday.
CSK defeated defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) by 15 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) in Qualifier 1 to march into their 10th IPL final. The four-time champions posted a 173-run target on a difficult batting surface before bundling out GT for 157.
The likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja and Maheesh Theekshana came up with brilliant batting and bowling displays for CSK but it was Dhoni who stole the limelight with his magical captaincy against an upbeat Gujarat Titans.
Former Pakistan opener Butt was the one among many who was mesmerised by the leadership skills of the Ranchi-born cricketer.
"What an absolute genius @msdhoni is. Absolutely world class tactician," Butt tweeted right after CSK's win.
What and absolute genius @msdhoni is . Absolutely world class tactician.
— Salman Butt (@im_SalmanButt) May 23, 2023
The match witnessed Dhoni's masterful moves on several occasions. The talismanic captain added another fielder on the off-side ahead of the fifth delivery of the sixth over from Theekshana as Hardik Pandya fell in the trap and ended up giving a catch to Ravindra Jadeja at backward point.
Later in the match, a fielder was perfectly placed at fine leg as dangerous Shubman Gill played a pull shot directly into the hands of Devon Conway who did not have to move even an inch.
In another incident, Rashid Khan ended up giving a catch at deep point seconds after Dhoni added extra fielders on the off side to allow Tushar Deshpande to continue with his plans.
CSK will meet the winner of the Eliminator in the IPL 2023 scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, May 28.