IPL 2019: MS Dhoni interacts with Mumbai Indians' trio after the match

The rivalry between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Mumbai Indians (CSK) is one of the fiercest if not the fiercest in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). More often than not, these are the two teams that have fought for supremacy on a consistent basis in the league. Their record speaks for themselves. They are the only two teams to have won the IPL thrice. No surprises then that neither of the two teams wants to lose this marquee clash.

However, on Wednesday, it was Mumbai Indians who came out on top against the defending champions at the Wankhede Stadium. Barring the toss and the poor start with the bat, almost everything went the home team’s way as they condemned the Super Kings to their first loss of the season.

Asked to bat first, Mumbai were in a spot of bother after being reduced to 50 for 3. However, a fifty from Suryakumar Yadav and a 42-run knock helped the hosts to revive their innings. Hardik Pandya (25* off 8) and Kieron Pollard (17* off 7) then added 45 runs in the last two overs to power Mumbai to 170 for 5.

In reply, the Super Kings could only manage 133 for 8 in the stipulated  20 overs. They started in a disastrous manner, losing their openers Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu for just 6 runs on the board. Barring Kedar Jadhav, who scored a fifty, none of the other batsmen could put up a good fight as the reigning IPL champions lost their first game of the season.

No bad blood between the players

But despite the intense rivalry between the two teams and his team ending up on the losing side on Wednesday, the CSK skipper MS Dhoni was seen interacting with Mumbai trio – Pandya brothers and Kieron Pollard – at the end of the game. Chennai Super Kings’ official Twitter handle posted the picture in which Dhoni could be seen giving the Mumbai Indians star some tips, writing, “Smile away the ups and downs! ”

Dhoni was rather busy after the match as he also met a special fan who was a senior lady who had come to watch the match with a placard which read, “I am here only for Dhoni.” Dhoni didn’t disappoint her and had a brief chat before clicking a selfie and then signed a jersey for them as well.

Smile away the ups and downs! #WhistlePodu #Yellove #MIvCSK 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/cI5mH9FcLS

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 3, 2019