Urvil Patel has credited MS Dhoni’s guidance for helping him deliver his first IPL half-century, a brilliant 65 off 23 balls that carried Chennai Super Kings to a chase of 204 against Lucknow Super Giants.
The innings
Patel struck two fours and eight sixes, reaching fifty in just 13 balls. The win lifted CSK to fifth in the table. The knock was particularly welcome because he had made a string of fast starts in earlier games without turning them into big scores.
What Dhoni told him
Patel said that in the dressing room Dhoni urged him to back his own ability and keep a clear head. The advice was to concentrate on playing the right ball in the right area rather than agonising over previous dismissals.
A message for his father
After reaching the milestone, Patel produced a note reading “Dad this is for you”. He dedicated the achievement to his father, who supported him through the difficult early stretch of his career.
The 27-year-old admitted he had been waiting for such a moment in the IPL and described the innings as one of the most emotional of his career.
