DUBAI: India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni has become the most-capped IPL player even as his Chennai Super Kings team – currently bottom of the table – faltered in yet another run chase.
The 39-year-old has now played 194 Indian Premier League matches, and overtook on Friday his former India and CSK teammate Suresh Raina, who has 193 games.
The former India skipper Dhoni and Raina both announced their retirement from international cricket last month.
But unlike Dhoni, Raina at the last minute pulled out of this IPL edition which because of the coronavirus pandemic is being held in the United Arab Emirates.
Dhoni has now played 164 of his 194 games for the CSK franchise. The others he played for Rising Pune Supergiant.
The explosive wicketkeeper-batsman, famed for his finishing skills during the peak of his international career, has lately faced criticism for batting slowly.
Even Dhoni’s leadership has come under criticism this year, with his otherwise successful franchise uncharacteristically only winning once in the first four games.
The CSK, with Dhoni batting in the middle, lost a run chase to David Warner’s Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven runs in Dubai on Friday.
“We have to get a lot of things right,” Dhoni said about his team after the match.
“It’s the professionalism – dropping catches, bowling no-balls. We’re making the same mistakes again,” he added.
India’s Dhoni now most capped Indian Premier League player
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India’s Dhoni now most capped Indian Premier League player
- The 39-year-old has now played 194 Indian Premier League matches
Reed surges four shots ahead at Dubai Desert Classic
- Spaniard David Puig climbed into second following a birdie-birdie finish after a 66 left him at 10 under
DUBAI: Patrick Reed stormed into a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, thanks to a brilliant 67 on Moving Day.
The American held a narrow overnight advantage at nine under but was quickly challenged by Francesco Molinari on the front nine. Molinari, who led after 18 holes, opened with three straight birdies to reach double figures before Reed hit back with three birdies and two bogeys in his first seven holes to join him at ten under.
Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, then finished his front nine with a birdie to edge ahead and did not look back, picking up three further shots to climb to 14 under at Emirates Golf Club as he pursues a maiden Rolex Series victory.
“I think the biggest thing right now is the driving. I feel like I’m driving the ball a little better right now,” said Reed. “Once I saw putts go in this week, seems like the putter is back behaving doing what it’s supposed to, and allows me to free up the rest of my golf game.
“You’re always excited, showing up on Sunday with a lead. I feel like that’s what all of us live for as players, competitors, to have a chance to win on Sundays. I know it’s not going to be easy, it never is, and doesn’t matter how big of a lead you have.”
Spaniard David Puig surged into solo second following a birdie-birdie finish in a stunning 66 to reach ten under, with 2022 champion Viktor Hovland one shot further back alongside Englishman Andy Sullivan, who bounced back from bogeys at the eighth and ninth with three birdies on the back nine.
“It was a great day from start to finish,” said Puig. “We were a little behind, and seeing Patrick Reed and all the guys that are up there are really good players, so I knew I needed a good one. Still a little behind but it’s going really well. Hopefully tomorrow we have a good chance.”
Hovland, who carded a bogey-free 65, said: “It was very nice and steady today. Hit a lot of fairways. I know I played a wonderful round of golf today. Certainly no complaints about a bogey-free 65 out here. This place is no joke. If I get off the tee and in a decent position, I can really do some damage.”
Italian pair Molinari and Andrea Pavan were in a share of fifth at eight under, while Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and Spaniard Jorge Campillo sat at seven under.
Nicolai Hojgaard led the group at six under alongside South African trio Jayden Schaper, Hennie du Plessis and amateur Christiaan Maas, as well as French pair Julien Guerrier and Martin Couvra.
