The myth

THE GREATEST LEGEND EVER: Just when people were getting ready to write the epitaph to his chequered career as one of the greatest players the T20 game has ever seen, Mahendra Singh Dhoni at 42 continues to prove that there is a lot of power still in his old bones.

At a packed Wankhede Stadium on Monday, Dhoni produced a trademark blazing finish by hammering Hardik Pandya for a hat-trick of sixes and a double to help CSK past the 200-run mark in Match 29 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 after Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube blasted quick-fire half-centuries to rescue them from 60/2 in the eighth over.

Even before the vociferous chants of "Dhoni, Dhoni" from the stands had died down, the former CSK captain carted Pandya's length ball over long-off. He followed it up by smacking him powerfully over the long-on boundary as Pandya allowed him the length to swing his arms freely.