CSK captain MS Dhoni believes the IPL’s uniqueness lies in the chance to comprehend and engage with foreign players and their culture. With a remarkable 226 IPL games captained, including over 200 for CSK in his 16-year IPL career, the 42-year-old also holds the record for the most wins as a captain with 133, guiding CSK to a shared record of five titles.
Before the 2024 season, Dhoni discussed the special aspects of the IPL in a Star Sports video, stating:
“IPL gave me an opportunity to understand a lot of foreign players. I wasn’t somebody who talked a lot to the opposition players but IPL provided an opportunity to know about other players, to know what they think about cricket, to know their culture. All of that made IPL very interesting.”
The ex-Indian captain also explained how having insight into each player on the team contributes to building the right culture and path for success.
“The Chennai team that played in 2008 was a well-balanced team and had a lot of all rounders. The team had a vast pool of experienced players such as Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, Muttiah Muralitharan, Makhaya Ntini, Jacob Oram.”
”To get them all together in one dressing room, to get to know each other was a challenge,” stated Dhoni.
“I always believed that when you’re leading a team, it is important to make sure you understand each other. Once you know the individual, you know his strength, his weaknesses, it becomes easier as a team to move in the right direction,” he added.
Even though he played his last international game in 2019, Dhoni has sustained success as an IPL captain. Leading CSK to titles in two of the last three seasons, including a thrilling last-ball victory against the Gujarat Titans in the 2023 grand finale, Dhoni boasts unparalleled achievements as a captain.
Additionally, he ranks seventh in IPL history for runs scored, accumulating 5,082 runs at an average of 38.79 and a strike rate of 135.91.
CSK, led by MS Dhoni, will kick off their IPL 2024 campaign with an exciting match against RCB
CSK will begin their IPL title defense against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Chennai on March 22, marking the inaugural match of the 2024 IPL season. As CSK aims for a second set of consecutive titles, replicating their successes in 2010 and 2011, RCB continues its quest for the elusive IPL trophy.
After three consecutive playoff appearances from 2020 to 2022, the Bangalore-based franchise missed the playoffs last season. Securing a sixth title would make MS Dhoni’s team the most successful franchise in the IPL, surpassing the Mumbai Indians (MI).
The last time CSK and RCB faced each other in a season opener in Chennai was in 2019, resulting in a comprehensive seven-wicket victory for the home side in a low-scoring match.
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