IPL 2024 CSK vs GT: "It Was Like Watching A 22-Year-Old Dhoni" - Parthiv Patel In Awe Of MSD's Diving Catch

Add as a preferred source on Google

Former India wicketkeeper turned JioCinema expert Parthiv Patel has been awestruck by Chennai Super Kings great Mahendra Singh Dhoni's diving catch that sent Gujarat Titans all-rounder Vijay Shankar back into the dugout.

Dhoni rolled back the years when Daryl Mitchell forced Shankar to edge one in the eighth over of the game, in which the former CSK skipper flied to his right to take a stunning catch behind the stumps at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday (March 26).

That effort saw the Chepauk crowd erupt and the commentators stunned, while the effort also garnered a lot of attention across platforms on the internet as CSK went on to seal their second win in as many games in IPL 2024 following a 63-run victory over GT.

JioCinema IPL expert Patel reacted on Dhoni's catch, saying only Dhoni can cover that distance as he is the only wicketkeeper, who "consistently dives in the same direction as the ball without any initial movement to the opposite side."

"I have never seen him practice wicketkeeping. The one important thing we can see here is the distance that he covered. A lot of wicketkeepers have an initial movement where they usually go towards the leg side, but MS Dhoni consistently dives in the same direction and can cover two meters of distance," Patel said on JioCinema.

"It looked like we were watching a 22-year-old Dhoni again. You have to praise him. A lot of young wicketkeepers should learn this technical point. When you use one leg to move to the leg side, you can't cover the distance on the off-side.

"Dhoni's anticipation is always correct, which allows him to cover the distance well, and very few times do we see that he needs to dive for the ball, because his anticipation is so good, and he covers the distance."

Patel also spoke of the performances of Ajinkya Rahane in the field after the former India Test captain was electric in the field against GT, capping the performance with a good low catch in the deep to dismiss the dangerous David Miller.

"It was a remarkable catch. When you're fielding in the deep, the hardest catches come when you have to dive forward. We've already seen the amazing catches Rahane is capable of taking. If we talk about an all-round fielder, it's him," Patel added.

"We've seen him pick up great catches in the slips for India before. Today, he stood in a difficult spot, deep mid-wicket, which is David Miller's hitting zone, and he picked up a wonderful catch."

Chennai Super Kings led by Ruturaj Gaikwad will look to make it three wins in a row when they face Delhi Capitals in their first away match of the season at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday (March 31).