Punjab Kings (PBKS) fast bowler Harshal Patel discussed claiming his wicket against MS Dhoni for a golden duck in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Dharamsala Stadium on Sunday. Harshal Patel went on to become the first bowler to dismiss the renowned cricketer MS Dhoni for zero runs in this IPL 2024 season.
Dhoni entered the ground to bat at No.9 in the concluding over of the innings. The whole crowd stood up from their seats, expecting Dhoni to provide another dazzling cameo, just like he did in his previous games. But, the wicketkeeper-batter has outsmarted him by delivering a slower and knocking out Dhoni’s off stump.
Harshal Patel dismissed Shardul Thakur with the same delivery he gave to MS Dhoni, which made him go back to his seat. This was the first time where Dhoni went to bat at No. 9 and for the 3rd consecutive time got knocked off by Harshal Patel.
Harshal Patel’s unique stance after dismissing MS Dhoni
Harshal Patel emphasized the fact that he misjudged the wickets and didn’t acknowledge it despite taking Dhoni’s wicket for zero runs.
“Definitely bit on the drier side, we felt that and even when we hit on the hard length, it wasn’t going as fast as we were bowling, it’s not stopping but definitely a slower one,” said Harshal Patel to host broadcasters, when asked about the pitch.
“I have too much respect for him to celebrate when I get him out. One of the advantages of day games is, the square is quite rough, when I came into bowl the first, the ball started reversing and it drifted away a bit and it made things harder for the batter. I was not really confident with those, initially I haven’t been bowling for over a year but I’ve been working on it, there’s no technique to it but when it comes out, it’s good as the batters mostly don’t pick it,” Harshal Patel further mentioned on Dhoni’s wicket and his overall performance.
For the first time ever, MS Dhoni was dismissed in this IPL 2024 season, where he ran out of balls in this innings in the course of their reverse fixture against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Chennai.
Harshal Patel concluded the innings with stats 3-24, to claim a second position as the highest wicket-taker next to Jasprit Bumrah, holding the Purple Cap
The 33-year-old right-arm pacer has registered quite a few maidens in this IPL season and has only been wicketless two times while having played 11 matches. He only delivered one over in PBKS’s win against CSK in Chennai, allowing only 12 runs and not pulling any wickets.
Nonetheless, Harshal Patel set things right, starting with the debatable LBW of Daryl Mitchell, and bagged two wickets in the concluding over.