IPL 2023: Rajasthan Royals win the game, Thala wins hearts, again! JioCinema clocks record viewership as 2.2 cr people watch Dhoni-Jadeja 'jugalbandi' in last over of Chepauk thriller

Wednesday was not just another day for the Chennai Super Kings at the ongoing Indian Premier League tournament. It was skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 200th IPL outing - and naturally, there was much anticipation and excitement among fans and players.

And MSD or Thala as he is popularly known by the fans of the franchise, did not disappoint. A lean, fit and agile Dhoni ensured that he received undivided attention as he tried to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in what became a thrilling, down-to-the-wire kinda game at Chepauk, much like the previous three encounters in this IPL going down to the last over.

As a slightly-nervous Sandeep Sharma carried the burden of the Royals on his young shoulders, bowling the crucial last over to his idol MSD, the viewership on JioCinema peaked at 2.2 crore, making it reportedly the highest viewership so far in the tournament.



The five other eyeball-grabbing games on JioCinema during this IPL season are:

• CSK vs RR – 2.2 cr [Dhoni & Jadeja batting in the last over]
• RCB vs LSG – 1.8 cr [Du Plessis & Maxwell batting]
• MI vs DC – 1.7 cr [When LSG won the match]
• CSK vs LSG – 1.7 [Dhoni at the crease]
• CSK vs GT – 1.6 cr [Dhoni batting]

For the 41-year-old Dhoni, it seemed pretty effortless as brought it down again to five off one ball with a flurry of sixes against the Royals. But the medium-pacer Sharma sent a golden yorker that didn't give Dhoni the winning shot, thereby ensuring a three-run win for Royals on CSK’s turf. This is the first time that the Royals have beat hosts CSK at home.

And while the Royals won the game, it was Thala who won hearts, again! There was much appreciation for his skipper's knock that ensured it was a close shave of sorts. Royals skipper Sanju Samson himself admitted in the post-match press conference that with Dhoni batting in the middle, it is never easy to predict.


Sharma, who steered the Royals to a dramatic win, expressed his appreciation for MSD in a tweet, calling it an "honour to bowl to him."

Fans on the ground, cloaked in a sea of yellow, and on social media hailed Dhoni's last-over antics. While some reminisced about his glorious days of yore, others were stunned by his athletic prowess at the age of 41!

Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle led the congratulatory brigade, and said that Dhoni in this present form defies all IPL retirement rumours.

"The bulked up Dhoni playing the power game is going fine," Bhogle's tweet read.


For past colleagues and veteran players, the adulation continued.



For others, it was Thala all the way!






When it comes to MSD, age is just a number as Wednesday’s Chepauk thriller proved, once again.