MS Dhoni revives IPL 2022 viewership single-handedly during MI vs CSK clash

MS Dhoni revives IPL 2022 viewership single-handedly during MI vs CSK clash: CSK former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni helps the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 revive its viewership single-handedly during the last night’s fixture between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Dhoni once again proved why he still is one of the finest finishers going around after taking his side home in a final ball thriller in the DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai.

It’s important to note that the viewership of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has suffered a hit this season. The ratings of the IPL 2022 opening week were down by 33 per cent as compared to the last year.

This downfall in the viewership was a setback for the BCCI, especially, after the expansion of the IPL. It was anticipated that the addition of the two new teams would tempt more eyeballs which will eventually increase the viewership, but things didn’t go as per the plans.

Though there are several factors associated with the viewership of the Indian Premier League and everything is not in the control of the officials. If the general perception of the experts is to be believed, the disappointing performance of two of the most successful IPL teams, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, has been a major reason for the decline in the viewership.

Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings haven’t performed at their best in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League. The former side has registered seven consecutive defeats in the tournament and is yet to open its account, while the latter side has just two wins under their best, of which one came last night.

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MI vs CSK revived IPL viewership:

Everybody including the organisers had pinned their hopes on the contest between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings for the revival of the viewership and the battle between the arch-rivals did exactly what was expected from it.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) restricted Mumbai Indians to a below-par total of 155 runs and it seemed that the Super Kings will fetch it easily. However, the changed look of Mumbai’s bowling attack did wonders to pick timely wickets and created pressure on the opposition.

The game was evenly poised in the final four overs following a lot of ebbs and flows. The tide kept shuffling between Mumbai and Chennai during the course of the match resulting in the much-required thrill for the fans. 

The contest was getting enthralling with each passing over. The equation was getting tensed as Mumbai kept picking timely wickets. 

The match went down to a wire as CSK required 17 runs off the final six deliveries, that were to be bowled by Jaydev Unadkat. The pacer scalped the wicket of dangerous-looking Dwaine Pretorius in the very first ball and pushed CSK into the backfoot.

Dwayne Bravo, the next man in, brought MS Dhoni back to strike in the second delivery and the rest that followed was inevitable for the five-times champion, Mumbai Indians. Dhoni slammed 16 runs in the final four deliveries and took CSK home against the arch-rivals.

Notably, the peak viewership during the entire match in the Disney Plus Hotstar clocked at 7.8 million concurrent viewers, but, it rose to 8.3 million during the final over as MS Dhoni, the greatest finisher, stole the show against Mumbai Indians.

MS Dhoni’s blistering knock of 13-ball 28 single-handedly helped IPL revive its viewership in the season. 

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