How one cool captain’s mid-match move helped Chennai clinch their first IPL title by outfoxing the great Tendulkar
It was the summer of 2010. The stage was grand, the stakes even grander. Under the lights of DY Patil Stadium, Chennai Super Kings were pursuing their first-ever IPL crown. At the other end stood Mumbai Indians — a team driven by the presence of Sachin Tendulkar, who was not only in sublime form that season but had also finished as the highest run-scorer with 618 runs.
As Mumbai began their chase of 169, the tension in the air felt almost palpable. With Tendulkar at the crease, all eyes were glued to the centre. Everyone knew — if the Little Master remained, CSK’s hopes would be dashed. But little did anyone know that in the dugout, MS Dhoni had already done his homework. And he was about to put it into action.
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Shadab Jakati, CSK’s left-arm spinner, wasn’t having the best of starts. In his first two overs, he had leaked 21 runs. In a final, that’s enough to get a bowler benched for the night. But Dhoni, being Dhoni, didn’t take that route. Instead, he hit pause, took stock, and played a waiting game.
Rather than tossing Jakati back into the fire, Dhoni opted to wait. The left-hander at the crease, Abhishek Nayar, didn’t fit the plan. But Dhoni saw his moment once Nayar walked off and the right-handers began to line up — Tendulkar, Rayudu, Pollard. Jakati was instructed to get ready again.
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CSK’s bowlers had done their homework, and Jakati, in particular, had studied Mumbai’s right-handers well. They proved more vulnerable against left-arm spin. Dhoni, as sharp as ever, kept that nugget in his pocket until it mattered.
Jakati tossed one up in his third over just enough to entice Tendulkar. The Maestro, on 48, mistimed his stroke and offered a simple catch to mid-off. It wasn’t merely a wicket — it was the wicket. The air shifted. The momentum swung. The noise dipped. Suddenly, Mumbai’s towering chase appeared shaky.
Two balls later, Jakati struck again, removing the in-form Saurabh Tiwary. Two scalps in one over. Both crucial. All part of the plan.
While Jakati was the man with the ball, the mind behind the moment belonged to Dhoni. What set him apart wasn’t just his lightning-fast stumpings or iconic helicopter shot — it was his intuition for the game. Dhoni didn’t believe in micromanaging every move. Instead, he allowed his bowlers the freedom to set their fields and test their plans. But he knew exactly when to step in when the plan required a nudge.
That’s what happened in the final. No panic. No drama. Just the right decision at the right time. Homework, instincts, and a bit of guts — that’s how CSK cracked the Tendulkar code.
Credit: ESPN
Chennai posted 168/5 on the board, with Raina’s 57 off 35 doing the heavy lifting. In reply, Mumbai faltered. Tendulkar top-scored with 48, but no one could take up the mantle after his dismissal. Jakati ended with 2/26, turning the tide when it mattered most. Mumbai finished on 146/9 — 22 runs short.
For CSK, this wasn’t just a win. It was their first IPL trophy—a title that began a golden era under the leadership of captain Cool.
