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A power packed MS Dhoni‘s knock was not enough for Chennai Super Kings to clinch their third win of the season. The 36-year old has turned back the years as he made Punjab bowlers look woeful.

Dhoni had smacked bowlers all over the park, a knock which depicted why he was the best finisher in the world. Having had the pressure of needing to score more than 18 runs per over in the last 4 overs, MS Dhoni has kept his cool and almost pulled off a win.

A dot ball in penultimate ball of the match saved the game for Kings XI Punjab. The hard hitting Dhoni had even converted the last ball into six. However, Mohit Sharma ensured that he kept his nerve despite the horrendous pressure of bowling to Dhoni.

Dhoni had managed 38 runs from 30 balls in his innings before scoring 41 runs in his last 14 balls. His innings featured 6 fours and 5 sixes. Earlier in the day, Chris Gayle has unleashed himself onto IPL 2018. The southpaw had not featured in the first two Kings XI Punjab games. But he ripped apart Chennai bowling as he scored 63 runs from just 33 balls.

Here is how Twitter reacted on MS Dhoni’s innings

Stunning match & what an innings by Dhoni. Outstanding man. Extraordinary player. Remarkable & soecutular batting. Short of words to describe absolute brilliance of M S Dhoni. No matter CSK has lost, Dhoni has won yet again #CSKvKXIP

— Ra_Bies 2.0 (@Ra_Bies) April 15, 2018

Will never forget what @msdhoni told me while interviewing him for Democracy's XI: you think I am under pressure in the last over, don't forget the bowler is even under greater pressure because he knows he is bowling to me! ?

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) April 15, 2018

Dhoni played an inning which satisfied both fans and haters.#KXIPvCSK

— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 15, 2018

Congratulations to the boys. Good to win this. Excellent knock from Dhoni ,kept everybody on the edge of their seats. But Chris Gayle ,the Universe Boss was magnificent. Our spinners did well to contain in the middle overs. #KXIPvCSK

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 15, 2018

Dhoni with a bad back almost pulled off the impossible. People keep writing him off but this man keeps raising the bar higher and higher. @ChennaiIPL and the fans can be super proud of his effort #KXIPvCSK

— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) April 15, 2018

https://twitter.com/HaramiParindey/status/985584576058687489

Dhoni to Trollers today.
Oye! Bh*$d!ke !! ?

— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) April 15, 2018

https://twitter.com/AlexHartley93/status/985582535546720256

MS stands for Mad Skills #Dhoni

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) April 15, 2018

Dhoni’s knock was a wonderful reminder of what he can do if he bats higher up the order….most bowlers still don’t know where to bowl to him in the death overs. You see fear in their eyes… #Mahi #KXIPvCSK #IPL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 15, 2018

Fantastic run chase it turned out to be by CSK, theoretically only a stroke away from victory. Dhoni played a marvellous knock and in the process answering several critics. But in hindsight you reckon Bravo could have batted before Jadeja?

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 15, 2018

Some Said He Is Aged!Some Said He Can't Play Anymore! ?

He still proves his position while he comes to bat! ❤

We Don't Need To Be On the winning side,but we can't see you struggling with the pain! ?

WE STILL LOVE YOU DHONI ? pic.twitter.com/nW3f8bcacU

— DHONIsm™ ❤️ (@DHONIism) April 15, 2018

Dhoni Fans right now. #KXIPvCSK pic.twitter.com/hVDFWDle2Q

— Akshay (@AkshayyJayyn) April 15, 2018

Counted 16 big hit attempts off 44 balls by Dhoni. Got 56 runs off those attempts. It was Dhoni at his vintage best tonight.???#CSKvKXIP

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 15, 2018

Someone won the heart (Dhoni). The other won the Match (Punjab) @msdhoni @lionsdenkxip @ChennaiIPL #KXIPvCSK

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) April 15, 2018

Crowd just loves MS. Every ground is home ground for Dhoni. #KXIPvCSK

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) April 15, 2018

Deep condolences to #Dhoni haters, though. All those 'vayasaaydichu' types. A special knock even as he continued to battle the lower back pain!

— Surendhar MK (@SurendharMK) April 15, 2018

Most IPL 50s without 100:

36 ~ Gambhir
29 ~ Dhawan
22 ~ Uthappa
18 ~ Dhoni*

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) April 15, 2018

Phenomenal batting Dhoni, all that carrying an injured back. ALWAYS YOUR FAN, yesterday, now and FOREVER! #IPL

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) April 15, 2018