IPL 2023: MS Dhoni’s catches ultimately helped us win the game: Devon Conway

Chennai Super Kings opener Devon Conway gave credit to the skipper MS Dhoni for his fine catching against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Monday. CSK posted a gargantuan total of 226-6 in their 20 overs but the Men in Yellow were not that good in the field as Maheesh Theekshana and Ruturaj Gaikwad dropped regulation catches.

However, MS Dhoni took two crucial catches to dismiss RCB stalwarts – Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell – who both were taking the game away from the visitors. In fact, the ball was swirling in the air but Dhoni, as always, kept his calm to take those two catches.

Faf du Plessis scored 62 runs from 33 balls whereas Maxwell scored a blistering knock of 76 runs from 36 balls. The RCB duo added 126 runs off just 61 balls but both were dismissed within two overs, and it was the turning point of the game.

“Those were very tough catches. It’s not easy to catch ball that goes straight up in the sky in the dark night. We are very lucky to have MS Dhoni with gloves on. If any person you want to take those tough chances, he is probably your guy. It broke the momentum of the innings and ultimately helped us win the game,” Conway told reporters.

In fact, Dhoni dropped Faf du Plessis’ catch when the RCB skipper was yet to get off the mark. Conway admitted that Faf and Maxwell did put them under pressure on CSK but their wickets helped the visitors bounce back.

“Before going in the field, MS told us that we are going to be put under pressure at times. They had brilliant momentum. Faf and Glenn put us under pressure but we always felt that by having 200 plus on the board and if we get a couple of wickets, we can always bounce back. For our bowlers it was staying clear, staying patient, and when the opportunity comes take it from both hands,” he said.

Conway added 74 runs off 43 balls with Ajinkya Rahane, who scored a masterful 20-ball 37. Subsequently, the New Zealand southpaw added 80 runs off 37 balls with Shivam Dube, who scored a blistering knock of 52 runs.

“Really good surface to bat on. I managed to get some good momentum throughout the partnerships I had with Ajinkya and Shivam Dube.

“Try and create the strike rate of 200, I didn’t actually manage to achieve that but others like Ajinkya and Shivam, Rayudu and Moeen Ali at the end, they all chipped in with really good strike rates and helped us reach to a very competitive total. That’s probably the method on a wicket like this, which is good to bat,” he said.

The four-time champions will next face Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Friday.