Minutes before the much-anticipated MI vs CSK match, Hardik Pandya abruptly left his warm-up session and dashed across the field to give MS Dhoni a big hug.
Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya showed his admiration and respect for former Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni before the big IPL 2024 match on Sunday at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Pandya and Dhoni have a wonderful bond, both as players and as friends. Pandya started his international career under Dhoni’s guidance, and since then, they have shared a special connection. The two are frequently spotted enjoying each other’s company outside of cricket matches.
Just minutes before the exciting MI vs CSK match was about to start, Hardik left his warm-up session and dashed over to Dhoni as he was stepping onto the field to join his team. The two embraced in a warm hug, creating a special moment that delighted the cheering fans in the stadium.
Dhoni, who is nearing the end of his career, is likely to play for the last time at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. There’s a lot of talk going around that this could be his final season as a player in the IPL.
In the highly anticipated match-up, Pandya won the coin toss and decided that his team would bowl first against their longtime rivals CSK. The stadium was filled to the brim with enthusiastic fans showing up in large numbers to cheer on both teams.
The Mumbai Indians captain mentioned that the presence of dew on the ground was the main factor that influenced his choice to bowl first. He also stated that they opted to field the same team as the previous match.
“We prefer to bowl first as we anticipate dew playing a role later on. The pitch seems improved from the last match, and we anticipate a high-scoring game. It’s crucial for us to focus on our basics and secure a win to maintain our momentum. The team has performed well in the two previous games, which highlights the collaborative nature of the IPL.
Every player has a role to play in achieving success. In the last game, we noticed dew becoming a factor after the first ten overs, and it tends to increase as the evening progresses. We’re fielding the same team for this match,” explained Hardik at the toss in simpler terms.
On the other hand, the defending champions CSK made a change in their team by bringing back Matheesha Pathirana instead of Maheesh Theekshana.
“It’s a bit disappointing that we couldn’t choose whether to bat or bowl first, but that’s just how things go sometimes. It’s crucial for us to perform well in batting, bowling, and fielding today. That’s the exciting nature of the IPL—it’s always changing and unpredictable. It should be a great match for both teams, with both sides having a good chance to win. We’ve made one change in the team: Pathirana is coming in for Theekshana,” Ruturaj Gaikwad mentioned during the toss.