3 Times MS Dhoni 'Failed' to Hit a Last Ball Six in an IPL match

image-lgetgcmrDhoni in action against RR [AP Photos]

Arguably the greatest finisher in the history of the game, MS Dhoni is known for his cool and calm nature and the ability to clinch victories from near impossible situations.

However, things didn't go according to his plan against Rajasthan Royals in the 17th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Chasing a tricky 176, Dhoni played one of the finest knocks of this season's IPL, but he failed to deliver the goods on the last ball of the innings as CSK lost the match eventually.

Here are 3 instances when 'Thala' failed to clear the fence to win the game on the last ball of an IPL match.

1) CSK vs RR, Chepauk 2023

Chennai Super Kings played against Rajasthan Royals in the 17th match of the IPL 2023. The stakes were high and RR posted a healthy 175 on the board. In reply, CSK faltered in the middle overs, despite valuable knocks from Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane. However, when 63 was required off the last 5, MSD stepped up alongside Ravindra Jadeja and took the game to the opposition bowlers.

They dealt in singles in the initial 10 balls, but decided to attack Adam Zampa as the equation was brought down to 40 in 2 overs.

The CSK skipper even hit two sixes off the last over of Sandeep Sharma, but with 5 required off the last ball, Sandeep bowled a brilliant yorker and Dhoni could only take a single as CSK lost the match.

2) CSK vs RCB, Chinnaswamy 2019

A match etched in the memory of the cricket lovers, the two power-houses from South India collided in a riveting battle. Batting first, RCB posted 161 for 7, courtesy of a fine fifty from Parthiv Patel.

In reply, CSK lost the plot by losing 4 wickets for just 28 runs. This is when the great MSD came to life and took the game to the wire. CSK needed 26 off the last over against Umesh Yadav and MS Dhoni smacked him for three sixes and a four as the Yellow Army needed just two runs off the last ball. But Dhoni failed to connect with the ball and scamper for a bye. However. Parthiv hit the bulls-eye and Shardul Thakur was run-out on the very last ball.

3) RPS vs SRH, Vizag 2016

In a game dominated by the spinner, the world witnessed a low-scoring game where stroke-making was difficult. RPS's Adam Zampa scalped 6 for 19 as the Sunrisers faltered against some quality spin attack and could only muster a paltry 137.

Chasing 138 became a monumental task for the RPS batters as George Bailey scored a scratchy 40-ball 34. Dhoni walked onto bat when the equation read 60 off 40 balls.

But Dhoni failed to get going as the required rate shot up to 11 runs per over.

In the last over, RPS needed 14 off the Ashish Nehra over and Dhoni did manage to hit him for a six. However, he was run-out on the penultimate delivery of the over as RPS couldn't cross the line.