<p>England all-rounder Sam Curran termed Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni a "genius" after justifying his surprise promotion in the batting order in their Indian Premier League (IPL) opener against Mumbai Indians on Saturday.</p>.<p>After Ravindra Jadeja fell in the 19th over, leaving Chennai needing 29 off 17 deliveries, former India captain Dhoni or fellow right-hander Kedar Jadhav was expected to join Faf du Plessis in the middle.</p>.<p id="page-title"><strong>Read:</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/cricket/ipl/chennai-super-kings-beat-mumbai-indians-by-five-wickets-in-ipl-2020-opener-890122.html" target="_blank">Chennai Super Kings beat Mumbai Indians by five wickets in IPL 2020 opener</a></strong></p>.<p>Dhoni sent Curran (18) instead and the 22-year-old clobbered two sixes and a four in his six-ball cameo before Chennai triumphed by five wickets with four balls to spare.</p>.<p>"To be honest, very surprised I went in but he's a genius, he obviously thought something," Curran said at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Stadium. "A great win in the end."</p>.<p>The left-handed batsman reckoned his promotion was partly because Dhoni wanted a left-right combination and said his aggression against left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya was premeditated.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/ipl-2020-live-cricket-match-score-latest-news.html" target="_blank">Click here to see the latest updates on IPL 2020</a></strong></p>.<p>"That was the over we wanted to target - a six or out approach mentality. Take the risk, and if it comes off it comes off, if it doesn't, it doesn't."</p>.<p>Dhoni's penchant for springing tactical surprises was most famously illustrated when he asked all-rounder Joginder Sharma to bowl the last over in the final of the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup which India won.</p>.<p>"At some point, I thought we needed to give Jadeja and someone like Sam to go ahead in the batting order and express themselves," Dhoni said after Saturday's win.</p>.<p>"They still had two spinners remaining, and we tried to intimidate the bowler a bit, it was just a psychological aspect.</p>.<p>"We know we bat quite deep and wanted them to go after the bowler. If you clear one or two (sixes), then it is easier for the batsmen to follow."</p>
<p>England all-rounder Sam Curran termed Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni a "genius" after justifying his surprise promotion in the batting order in their Indian Premier League (IPL) opener against Mumbai Indians on Saturday.</p>.<p>After Ravindra Jadeja fell in the 19th over, leaving Chennai needing 29 off 17 deliveries, former India captain Dhoni or fellow right-hander Kedar Jadhav was expected to join Faf du Plessis in the middle.</p>.<p id="page-title"><strong>Read:</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/cricket/ipl/chennai-super-kings-beat-mumbai-indians-by-five-wickets-in-ipl-2020-opener-890122.html" target="_blank">Chennai Super Kings beat Mumbai Indians by five wickets in IPL 2020 opener</a></strong></p>.<p>Dhoni sent Curran (18) instead and the 22-year-old clobbered two sixes and a four in his six-ball cameo before Chennai triumphed by five wickets with four balls to spare.</p>.<p>"To be honest, very surprised I went in but he's a genius, he obviously thought something," Curran said at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Stadium. "A great win in the end."</p>.<p>The left-handed batsman reckoned his promotion was partly because Dhoni wanted a left-right combination and said his aggression against left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya was premeditated.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/ipl-2020-live-cricket-match-score-latest-news.html" target="_blank">Click here to see the latest updates on IPL 2020</a></strong></p>.<p>"That was the over we wanted to target - a six or out approach mentality. Take the risk, and if it comes off it comes off, if it doesn't, it doesn't."</p>.<p>Dhoni's penchant for springing tactical surprises was most famously illustrated when he asked all-rounder Joginder Sharma to bowl the last over in the final of the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup which India won.</p>.<p>"At some point, I thought we needed to give Jadeja and someone like Sam to go ahead in the batting order and express themselves," Dhoni said after Saturday's win.</p>.<p>"They still had two spinners remaining, and we tried to intimidate the bowler a bit, it was just a psychological aspect.</p>.<p>"We know we bat quite deep and wanted them to go after the bowler. If you clear one or two (sixes), then it is easier for the batsmen to follow."</p>