IPL 2017: MS Dhoni’s knock impresses ‘rivals’ David Warner, Virender Sehwag

MS Dhoni slammed a match-winning 34-ball 61 for Rising Pune Supergiant against Sunrisers Hyderabad in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match. His effort was lauded by David Warner and Virender Sehwag

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s brilliant finish game for Rising Pune Supergiant on Saturday earned him praise from his opponent, Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper David Warner.

MS Dhoni returned to form with a half-century for Rising Pune Supergiant against Sunrisers Hyderabad in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match. (AFP)

Dhoni slammed a 34-ball 61 to chase down 177 with a last-ball boundary at the MCA Stadium in Pune.

“We tried our best but @msdhoni the finisher played outstanding. Well done,” Warner tweeted on Sunday.

Dhoni’s former India teammate Virender Sehwag recited the famous Bollywood song from Amar Akbar Anthony in lavishing his praise for the ex-India skipper. “Anhoni ko honi kar de @msdhoni ! Brilliant ,absolutely brilliant,” Sehwag tweeted.

Dhoni was off to a slow start with 26 runs in 23 balls, but later stepped up and took on IPL-10’s most successful bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, slamming 35 runs off his last 11 balls that helped Rising Pune Supergiant seal the crucial win.

The social media has been abuzz after Dhoni roared back to form. In the first five matches, Dhoni had scored just 61 runs.

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly had recently stirred up a controversy by doubting Dhoni’s T20 credentials. “I am not too sure if Dhoni is a good T20 player. He is a champion ODI player but when it comes to T20 cricket, in 10 years, he has got one fifty and that’s not the best record,” Ganguly had told India Today.

Dhoni’s knock on Saturday has not just made his critics eat their words, it will also hold him in good stead for the ICC Champions Trophy where India will defend the title in England.