MS Dhoni's painful limps while running between the wickets in CSK vs DC match breaks Irfan Pathan's heart

Irfan Pathan took to Twitter to say that it was “heartbreaking” to see MS Dhoni limp while running between the wickets in CSK vs DC IPL 2023 match

Irfan Pathan shared his thoughts after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni was seen limping while running during their IPL 2023 match against the Delhi Capitals (DC) at Chepauk on Wednesday.

Chennai Super Kings' Mahendra Singh Dhoni gestures during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai(AFP)

Dhoni ran back the clock when he gave glimpses of his glorious past during his nine-ball 20-run innings. He walked out to bat when CSK were struggling at 126/6 amid huge cheers from the packed Chepauk crowd.

The legendary cricketer didn't disappoint. He hit two sixes and a boundary in the 19th over bowled by Khaleel Ahmed to give CSK the much-needed impetus at the death. However, he refrained himself from converting the ones into twos, given that he is nursing a knee injury.

Pathan took to Twitter to say that it was “heartbreaking” to see MS Dhoni limp while running between the wickets.

"Seeing Dhoni limping thru running between the wickets breaks my heart. Have seen him run like a cheetah," he said in his tweet.

CSK head coach Stephen Fleming had earlier revealed that the wicketkeeper-batter has been suffering from a knee injury.

"He (Dhoni) is nursing a knee injury, which you can see in some of his movement, which is hindering him somewhat," Fleming said during a press conference in April.

Dhoni’s knock did make the difference in the end as DC fell short of the 167-run target by 27 runs.

Dhoni has been batting lower down the order this season, solely as a finisher. Speaking about his role in the CSK batting line-up after the game, Dhoni stressed that this is what he is supposed to do and is happy to contribute to the success of the team.

"This is what my job is, I have told them this is what I am supposed to do, don't make me run a lot and it has been working," he said at the post-match presentation ceremony. "This is what I need to do, happy to contribute."

CSK are currently placed second in the IPL 2023 points table behind Gujarat Titans with 15 points from 12 matches.

CSK are next in action against KKR in Chennai on May 14.