WATCH | MS Dhoni literally sweeps KL Rahul off his feet

After India concluded their T20I series against New Zealand in November, critics had raised questions over Dhoni’s place in the squad and his ability to finish games. While many took the former skipper’s side, there were others who had grown skeptical of his abilities. 

But, as usual, MS Dhoni decided to answer them with his bat. After playing a crucial innings of 65 runs in the Dharamsala ODI, the 36-year-old was at it again in Cuttack on Wednesday against Sri Lanka, where he scored an important unbeaten knock of 39 runs. Coming up the batting order, Dhoni had time to settle in and then see off the target beyond Sri Lanka’s reach and he did exactly that. However, his ferocious temper was not only felt by the Sri Lanka bowlers but by teammate KL Rahul as well. 

The incident occurred in the third delivery of the 14th over when Dhoni was at the strike with the scoreboard reading 104/2. In the fourth ball of his innings, Dhoni stepped out from the crease to play Akila Dananjaya’s full-length delivery. His powerful shot rocketed the ball down straight for a four but before reaching the ropes forced KL Rahul, who was standing at the non-striker end, to jump on his feet in an attempt to save himself. 

Rahul eventually lost his balance and fell down on the ground as the ball raced to the boundary. Though they exchanged a smile following it, the shot seemed to have got Rahul disoriented, as the opener gave away his wicket in the very next delivery he faced.