Former cricketer and commentator Sunil Gavaskar recently praised Dhoni, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain, for his leadership abilities ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Gavaskar highlighted Dhoni’s success in leading CSK to victory in the IPL 2018 tournament. For those unaware, the Chennai-based team, along with the Rajasthan Royals, had been suspended for two years due to their involvement in the 2013 corruption scandal before returning to the league. Gavaskar said:
When CSK returned and won the IPL trophy, it was amazing because the team had not been together for two years, and they had moved out with different franchises, and suddenly they came back again. That tells you leadership. That means you how the man could get a team together again after that gap.”
He continued:
“Sometimes you know, first year, second year, there is a team spirit that happens, but to get all of them together after the gap is remarkable.”
Chennai staged a remarkable comeback, securing the second spot in the league stage. They clinched the title by beating SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) with eight wickets to spare at the Wankhede Stadium.
Sunil Gavaskar praises MS Dhoni’s performance: “He smashed the final over to score 20 runs that the team needed.”
Sunil Gavaskar lauds Dhoni’s impressive performance in the IPL 2018 season, where he scored 455 runs in 16 matches with an outstanding average of 75.83, including three half-centuries. In that season, he also recalled Dhoni’s unbeaten knock of 79 off 44 balls against Punjab Kings (PBKS), where he hit some remarkable shots, including sixes over long-on to score the required 20 runs in the final over.
Gavaskar added that Dhoni’s unique ability to make his fellow players feel confident and empowered sets him apart from other players.
As for the ongoing IPL 2023, MS Dhoni and his team Chennai will begin their campaign against Gujarat Titans led by Hardik Pandya on March 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
It is rumored that the veteran cricketer from Ranchi may retire from the IPL after completing the 2023 season.
