Thala turned the clock back with a final-over fury as Steyn faced the storm in CSK’s backyard
In a league that thrives on drama, the IPL rarely disappoints. On 22 May 2014, under the Ranchi lights, a certain 'Thala' ensured the script had one final twist. MS Dhoni, calm as ever for 19 overs, pulled off the mask and turned beast mode on in the 20th. Poor Dale Steyn was at the receiving end, as 24 runs came off the final over.
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Yes, twenty-four. One of the game's most feared pacers was reduced to a statistic in Dhoni's late onslaught. However, this match was more than just one over — it was a story layered with blistering boundaries, calamitous run-outs, rookie nerves, and a chase that defied pressure.
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Right from the start, it was clear that the Chennai Super Kings weren't jogging between the wickets. Dwayne Smith (47) and Faf du Plessis (19) aimed to entertain the Ranchi crowd with fours and sixes. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the first to face the early hits as Smith easily drove him through cover and behind point. 12 runs off the first over set the tone.
With the openers dismissed and Suresh Raina falling cheaply, the onus fell on David Hussey and MS Dhoni to stitch things together. And stitch they did—methodically, like tailors at work in a busy Chennai market. As always, Hussey brought a measured calm while Dhoni picked his moments like a poker player reading the table.
Together, they added an unbeaten 108 runs for the fourth wicket off just 66 balls. There were no fireworks early on, just smart cricket—singles, twos, and the occasional boundary to keep the scoreboard ticking. This stand laid the perfect foundation for what would become an explosive finish.
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MS Dhoni wasn't in his usual flow. Until the 19th over, he was cruising at a steady pace, playing along easily. But then Bhuvneshwar offered him a gift. Dhoni pulled one flat toward Aaron Finch at long-on.
It was a straightforward chance. Finch misjudged it; the ball slipped through and sailed over the ropes. Six runs were added, and the momentum shifted. The crowd roared. You could feel it in the air — Dhoni was warming up.
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Enter the final over. Dhoni, with 33 runs off 31 balls. Steyn, steaming in. First ball – smashed over long-off for six. Second – dispatched over deep midwicket. The third and fourth balls disappeared for fours, and the scoreboard caught fire just like that. Two more twos and Dhoni ended with 57 not out off 41 balls. The over read: 6, 6, 4, 4, 2, 2. Steyn's figures ballooned to 4-0-43-0.
CSK finished at 185/3. It felt match-winning.
Chennai's fireworks were loud, but David Warner had the last laugh. He scored a powerful 90 off just 45 balls. With Dhawan holding fort with an unbeaten 64, Sunrisers Hyderabad chased down the target in 19.4 overs. They won by six wickets, but the night belonged to two men — Warner for his blistering chase and Dhoni for that unforgettable final flourish.
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In a match brimming with narratives, that last over from Steyn to Dhoni etched itself into IPL folklore — when Thala turned back the clock and reminded the world: write him off at your own peril.
