Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has drawn parallels between Punjab Kings (PBKS) opener Prabhsimran Singh and a young MS Dhoni, following the batter’s explosive 91-run innings off 48 balls against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025.
Hayden’s Praise for Prabhsimran
Speaking on Star Sports during the mid-innings break, Hayden highlighted Prabhsimran’s fearless approach, stating, “Back in 2010, there was a young MS Dhoni who was launching balls in the last over of the day. Prabhsimran has similar attributes—great bat speed, a solid base, and the ability to maneuver the ball into gaps.”
Hayden further noted that Prabhsimran forced LSG bowlers into errors, showcasing complete control over his innings.
Prabhsimran’s Match-Winning Knock
- The 24-year-old opener smashed seven sixes and six boundaries, maintaining a strike rate of 189.58.
- His innings helped PBKS post a mammoth 236/5, securing a 37-run victory over LSG.
- He was named Player of the Match, reflecting on his performance: “I started well, had confidence from my last innings, and capitalized on my chances.”
Dhoni’s Iconic 2010 Knock
Hayden’s comparison stems from Dhoni’s match-winning 54 off 29 balls against PBKS in IPL 2010, where he smashed 16 runs in the final over to take Chennai Super Kings (CSK) into the semifinals.
Prabhsimran’s fearless batting has now sparked discussions about his potential to become one of IPL’s most dominant openers.
