Breaking Down MS Dhoni's IPL 2015 Season with Chennai Super Kings
It was a difficult end to the 2015 Indian Premier League season for the Chennai Super Kings and their inspirational superstar captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
The Super Kings qualified for the final against the Mumbai Indians but lost by 41 runs as their bowlers allowed Mumbai to hit 202 for five batting first.
For Dhoni in particular, it was a sad end to this year's tournament, as he was desperate to win the title for the first time.
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For him personally, it was one of his better years, especially with the bat, as he made 372 runs from 17 matches at an average of exactly 31.
He may have been disappointed to have managed only one score over 50 while compiling a strike rate of 121.96, his lowest in the history of the tournament.
Let's take a look at his tournament in full and break down how things went for one of India's biggest stars in his home country's biggest tournament.
| 17 | 372 | 31.00 | 121.96 | 53 | 27 | 17 |
Game 1: vs. Delhi Daredevils (April 9)
Against the Delhi Daredevils in his first game of the tournament, Dhoni hit 30 from 27 balls to start on the right foot for his side.
It was an innings that included one four and two sixes, and it helped the Super Kings win by just one run.
Game 2: vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad (April 11)
Just two days later, Dhoni made his highest score of the tournament against Sunrisers Hyderabad, as he hit 53 from just 29 balls.
It was vital to help Chennai win by 45 runs, as they got off to the best start possible.
Game 3: vs. Mumbai Indians (April 17)
After a six-day break, Chennai returned to action and won by six wickets over the Mumbai Indians.
Unfortunately, Dhoni made just three runs before Kieron Pollard caught and bowled him.
Game 4: vs. Rajasthan Royals (April 19)
Chennai batted first against Rajasthan and made 156 for four, with Dhoni scoring an unbeaten 31 from 37 balls.
However, the Royals chased down their target with ease to win by eight wickets.
Game 5: vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore (April 22)
The Super Kings got back to winning ways against Royal Challengers Bangalore to win by 27 runs, although Dhoni got a start but then got out.
He reached 13 from 13 deliveries batting at four, but AB de Villiers then caught him off the bowling of Yuzvendra Chahal.
Game 6: vs. Kings XI Punjab (April 25)
Chennai took a massive win by 97 runs over Kings XI Punjab in their next game, with Dhoni again to the fore with the bat.
He made 41 not out from 27 balls as his side reached 192, and then their bowlers totally overwhelmed the Punjab batsmen.
Game 7: vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (April 28)
Chennai won again against the Kolkata Knight Riders, this time by the small margin of just two runs.
However, Dhoni again failed with the bat to make just three runs before he was caught behind by Robin Uthappa off Andre Russell.
Game 8: vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (April 30)
Two days later, the teams played again, only this time, Kolkata won by seven wickets.
Dhoni again failed, as he made just one run before Piyush Chawla bowled him.
Game 9: vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 2)
Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Chennai by 22 runs in their next match, although Dhoni saw something of an upturn in his fortunes with the bat.
He scored 20 from 16 balls as the Super Kings chased 193 to win, but it was not enough for them to avoid defeat.
Game 10: vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore (May 4)
Chennai got back to winning ways against Royal Challengers Bangalore in their next game, with victory coming by 24 runs.
Dhoni again did pretty well as he hit 29 from 18 deliveries in a supporting role that included two fours and two sixes.
Game 11: vs. Mumbai Indians (May 8)
Mumbai beat Chennai by six wickets in their latest game, and again Dhoni did pretty well with the bat in defeat.
He made an unbeaten 39 from 32 balls to help his side to 158, although the Indians overhauled that with relative ease.
Game 12: vs. Rajasthan Royals (May 10)
Against Rajasthan, Dhoni had very little time to make an impact with the bat, although his contribution turned out to be vital.
He scored 13 not out from seven balls as Chennai won by 12 runs over the Royals in a game dominated by the ball.
Game 13: vs. Delhi Daredevils (May 12)
The Delhi Daredevils beat Chennai by six wickets, but Dhoni managed to impress with the bat nonetheless.
The Super King scored 27 from 24 balls but could only help his side to 119, a target the Daredevils had few problems overhauling.
Game 14: vs. Kings XI Punjab (May 16)
Chennai beat Kings XI Punjab by seven wickets in their next game, and Dhoni was there at the end to help them home.
He scored 25 not out from 16 balls to take his side across the line comfortably alongside Suresh Raina.
Game 15: vs. Mumbai Indians (May 19)
In the first qualifying game of the playoffs, Mumbai beat Chennai by 25 runs as Dhoni had perhaps his worst innings of the season.
Former India team-mate Harbhajan Singh dismissed him from his first ball in what was a tough game for Dhoni.
Game 16: vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore (May 22)
Facing elimination, the Super Kings overcame Royal Challengers Bangalore by three wickets to reach the IPL final.
Dhoni made 26 from 29 balls, as it was left to Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin to lead Chennai to the win.
Game 17: vs. Mumbai Indians (May 24)
In the IPL final, Chennai fell short once again against Mumbai, this time by 41 runs.
Dhoni made 18 from 13 balls at four, but Lasith Malinga bowled him, and he was powerless as his side's batting collapsed.
Conclusion
It was a decent IPL 2015 for Dhoni, who only failed on a few occasions with the bat and often played some valuable knocks down the order.
However, he will be disappointed to have missed out in the final, especially when his side needed him the most and then crumbled without him.
That meant it was a difficult end to this year's tournament for Dhoni, who otherwise can reflect on a strong effort with the bat and in captaincy.
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