Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Dhoni needs four more dismissals to reach a big T20 landmark as a wicketkeeper while Kohli is close to as many as 3 milestones.
Tag: MS Dhoni
-
MS Dhoni Handsover CSK Captaincy To Ruturaj Gaikwad Day Before IPL 2024 Opener; Here’s Why ‘Thala’ Chose Young Batter For Role; Know Here
IPL 2024: Ruturaj Gaikwad was seen posing with the other IPL team captains with the trophy before the season opener.
-
Chennai Super Kings’ SWOT Analysis: One Big WEAKNESS In MS Dhoni’s CSK Can Hurt Them Immensely | cricket news
Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) open their Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on March 22 at their homeground. CSK are five-time champions and in what is likely to be Dhoni’s last season with CSK in IPL, the franchise wants to finish as the most successful franchise in the T20 league by winning the record-making sixth title. In an interview to ESPNcricinfo, coach Stephen Fleming spoke of how the team environment helps this ‘Yellow Brigade’ find consistency. There is a sense of belongingness to CSK that allows players to feel at home and as a result, they set out to achieve the best results for the team.
Also Read | Team CSK Full List Of Players IPL 2024: Check Chennai Super Kings Full Schedule
MS Dhoni is not a leader who works more on data. While numbers, matchups are important in IPL and T20 cricket, Dhoni drives this team on trust and confidence. He chooses his best XI right from the first match and backs them to the hilt unless some of them really go out of form or an injury occurs. Dhoni’s incredible belief in his team and also understanding what is their weakness and how to cleverly hide it, makes him one of the best captains in this competition. Surely, winning five titles is not a sign of a ‘lucky’ captain.
Taking Guard _ #WhistlePodu _ pic.twitter.com/AT5qdrHp5p — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 19, 2024
Ahead of IPL 2024, CSK look a solid squad again. But they have been hit by a series of injuries while some new players have joined forces. Let’s do a SWOT analysis of CSK, looking at their strengths, weaknesses, opportunity and threat. Read on.
strength
Make no mistake about it, CSK’s biggest strength is their leader MS Dhoni. A captain plays a huge role in a competition such as IPL and CSK have been lucky to have Dhoni’s services right from the start. With Dhoni at helm, what worked for CSK is that they stuck with a core group of players, year after year. The Rainas, Husseys, Rayudus may have left, but Dhoni has found a new core in Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Deepak Chahar, Moeen Ali and himself. The franchise does not like to do choppings and changes.
Additionally, their batting looks very strong with Gaikwad, Rahane, Shivam Dube, Jadeja, Dhoni in the mix. The fact that CSK will play 7 games at home, they have quality spinners at the helm to bowl on the slow and low wickets in the form of Jadeja, Mitchell Santner and Moeen.
weakness
In totality, CSK do look a very good squad. But when you use a lens to look into the little details, there is one short coming. There is no Matheesha Pathirana this year which means CSK lack a quality death-overs specialist. If he is not there, CSK will have to make Mustafizur Rahman play. He was bought at the last auction and what a purchase he is already turning out to be. Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande should open the bowling for CSK while Mukesh Choudhary could also be used as an alternative but they all leak runs at the death, which could become a huge worry for CSK in this season. The teams who have hard-hitting batters deep down the order would like to use this weakness as their advantage.
Swing Fast, Fizz! __ https://t.co/j1y6I1pY3v — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 19, 2024
Opportunity
IPL 2024 provides CSK an opportunity to look at new players such as Mustafizur. He has been a huge asset for teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) but maybe his best is yet to come at CSK. Not to forget, Rachin Ravindra is a likely option for CSK to replace Devon Conway at the top. Whenever Conway returns, Ravindra can go down to No 3 if her performs with the bat in the first few games. Ajinkya Rahane, at the same time, is hungry for runs after struggling in the recently-concluded Ranji Trophy. It will be interesting to see how he goes.
Threat
What if the tournament is not held in home and away format after the first two weeks of the competition. BCCI secretary has reportedly said that IPL will be played entirely in India despite the Lok Sabha elections. This is good news for teams who prosper in home conditions. But LS elections will go on simultaneously and if IPL, as a result, is played in just a few places, the home advantage could be compromised for some teams. CSK would be hoping they get to play 7 games at least at Chepauk as their squad is built keeping the home and away format in India. This is a huge potential threat for MS Dhoni’s men ahead of IPL 2024.
CSK Updated Squad
Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (c), Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Mitchell Santner, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant. Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Mustafizur Rahman, Avanish Rao Aravelly.
Players injured/withdrawn: Devon Conway, Matheesha Pathirana.
CSK Schedule (Announced so far):
Match 1: Chennai Super Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore, Friday, March 22, 8pm, Chennai
Match 7: Chennai Super Kings v Gujarat Titans, Tuesday, March 26, 7.30pm, Chennai
Match 13: Delhi Capitals v Chennai Super Kings, Sunday, March 31, 7.30pm, Vizag
-
I Want To Be Dhruv Jurel: India Star On Comparison With MS Dhoni | cricket news
He might be drawing comparisons with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, but wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel on Friday said nobody can quite match up to the former India captain and he would rather focus on carving his own niche in international cricket. Jurel, who made his Test debut during the recently-concluded series against England, was sharp behind the wickets, solid with the bat and quite instinctive while guiding captain Rohit Sharma during DRS calls.
His assured performance prompted the legendary Sunil Gavaskar to compare Jurel with Dhoni, but the 23-year-old, who is the son of a Kargil war veteran, begged to differ. (Did You Know: Son-In-Law KL Rahul Captains LSG But Suniel Shetty Is Fan Of Multiple-Time Champions)
“Thank you so much Gavaskar sir for comparing me with Dhoni sir. But I want to say personally that no one can replicate what Dhoni sir has done,” Jurel said at the 'India Today Conclave'.
“There is only one Dhoni. Always was and always will be. For me, I just want to be Dhruv Jurel. Whatever I do, I want to do as Dhruv Jurel. But Dhoni sir is a legend and he will always remain like that. ,” added the young wicketkeeper-batsman.
You can't be bad at cricket when your idol is MS Dhoni
What a finish Dhruv Jurel pic.twitter.com/KdIVS3OvOG MahiEra (@themahiera) May 19, 2023
Jurel called Tests the “purest” form of the game and said getting the India cap was a dream come true for him. (Explained: What Is The New Stop Clock Rule Imposed By ICC For T20 World Cup 2024?)
“It (getting the Test cap and getting the man of the match) hasn't yet sunk in. It was a pleasure to play Tests, the purest form of cricket. I was sure that I would play Test cricket some day and it has has been a dream-come-true moment for me.”
“I always wanted to play Tests. When I was playing U-19, my goal was to play 200 Tests, which I later realized was not possible,” said the youngster, who at the age of 12, traveled alone to a cricket academy in Noida for training from his Agra home.
Jurel also dismissed comparisons between Test cricket and Indian Premier League as unrealistic.
“(For me) IPL has not reduced the love for (Test) cricket. When I got the baggy cap (India Test cap), it was a different feeling altogether. There is no contest whatsoever (between the two). Test cricket is at a different level,” he said.
On whether he fancies his chances of making the squad for the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA, Jurel said he wasn't thinking so far ahead. The World Cup is to be held in June.
“To be honest, I don't have to think much; let's just control the controllables,” he said. (IPL 2024: LSG Welcome Gabba Test Hero Shamar Joseph With Hilarious Dig At Australia – WATCH)
Jurel also praised the BCCI's recent move to reward those playing more Test matches, saying it was a “great initiative” but he was still trying to figure out the increase in perks. It was an emotional moment for Jurel when his father, Nem Chand, who was also present among the guests at the conclave, saluted his son for bringing laurels to the country.
“Dad was in the (Indian) Army. He wanted me to join the special forces and prepare for the NDA (National Defense Academy exams). Dad was disciplined in diet and training. (But) he was not in favor of cricket. So I did not tell dad (initially) that I had started playing cricket. He tried to convince me to continue with academics. Then I approached my mother and tried to bring both on the same page.”
“Finally, he agreed to get me a slogger bat made of Kashmir willow. When I wanted a kit worth Rs 5000-6000, my mom said she would sell her gold chain to get me one,” he recalled a well-documented anecdote from his formative years.
-
IPL 2024: MS Dhoni To Retire At End Of This Season? AB de Villiers Makes A Big Statement On CSK Captain's Future | cricket news
MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers are two of the greatest players who played the sport. On fied, they were greatest of rivals but off it, they had massive respect for each other and were good friends. Both share mutual respect for each other. They are also IPL legends who played many a great knocks for their respective franchises. While de Villers has already brought curtains on his IPL and international career, Dhoni continues to ply his trade in the T20 league. Speaking over his YouTube channel on Wednesday, de Villiers predicted the future of Dhoni in IPL at the end of the season.
Also Read | 'They Can't Stomach IPL Fees Of Indians': Sunil Gavaskar Slams England For Their 'Doing You A Favour' Attitude, Says Great Fun Watching Them Lose
De Villiers compared Dhoni with a diesel engine which never ends. The former Proteas batsman said that no one can guess what move Dhoni is going to make next and the retirement decision is one such move that no one knows when it is coming.
“They played some incredible cricket last year. There were a lot of rumors about MS Dhoni finishing up last year, that was not the case, ladies and gentlemen. He would be back again. Will this be his final season? No one knows. He just seems to be this diesel engine that never ends. He keeps running. What an incredible player, what an incredible captain,” de Villiers said in a video on his YouTube channel.
De Villiers, who played most of his cricket at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), did not stop himself from praising CSK, the franchise and the team. He said that they have all the ingredients to be the best team in the competition, including a captain like Dhoni and a calm head in the form of Stephen Fleming.
I sang my favorite Hindi song, chatted about what inspired me and of course, discussed my takes on the upcoming #IPL2024 which is just 9 days away and promises excitement! ,
It's all on this special episode of the week's #360Show ____
__: https://t.co/T0W8csi47K_ pic.twitter.com/24pITq3RuS
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) March 13, 2024
“I believe it's through their presence, it's through the leadership of MSD, a calm coach in Stephen Fleming, senior players in Ravi[ndra] Jadeja and others who have really set this incredible culture alive. They are a very intimidating team to play against. They are never easy to beat,” he added.
Dhoni is 42 years old and many are assuming that this could be his last IPL. He may want to finish off after making CSK the most successful franchise in the league. CSK and Mumbai Indians have both won 5 IPL titles. No other team is near them, in terms of title wins and Dhoni would want to sign off after winning the record sixth title. But with Dhoni, as de Villiers pointed out, you don't know what's coming.
-
IPL 2024: Who After MS Dhoni? Massive Update On CSK's Captaincy Provided by CEO Kasi Viswanathan | cricket news
It is highly-likely that IPL 2024 could be MS Dhoni's last T20 championship. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain has not made any statement about retiring from the league as yet but it is also true that he might not be able to carry on for another year as his body may stop giving him the much-needed support. Dhoni already has a troubled knee and has been seen playing with strap on it in previous editions.
Dhoni will be 43 years old in July this year. How he and CSK go in IPL 2024 could give better answers to him as far as leaving or staying is concerned. At the same time, it is important for CSK to find the new leader. In 2022, an experiment took place as Ravindra Jadeja was named as the captain just before the league was to start. However, after a few losses, Dhoni was renamed the captain of the side.
CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan has finally broken silence over who can lead CSK after Dhoni calls it quits. Viswanathan says the next captain will not be decided by him or any other top CSK official but the captain and vice-captain will take this call. “See, there have been internal talks. But, Mr. Srinivasan has made it very clear. Let's not talk about captain and vice-captain appointments. Let's leave it to the coach and the captain to decide. Let them decide and convey the information. to me, and then I will convey it to you all. He has said that 'the captain and the coach will decide and give us a directive, till then let's all keep quiet',” Viswanathan told former CSK cricketer S Badrinath in the latter's YouTube show.
Among the candidates who can lead Chennai after Dhoni is done are Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell and Moeen Ali. The biggest contender of them all is Gaikwad, who is young and is also growing into a mature cricketer. He has also spent four years in CSK and has enough experience to get the baton from Captain Cool.
Signing an everlasting bond with the fans! _#WhistlePodu __ pic.twitter.com/NCEFs6M587 — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 13, 2024
He also underlined the importance of qualifying for the knockouts first in IPL 2024. Viswanathan said that CSK's planning is simple: target the knockouts and see how it goes from there. “We have always focused on qualifying for the knockouts. That's our first aim. After that, it depends on the performance on that day. We are following that even now. Before every season, MS Dhoni tells us 'First let us concentrate on league games. We will look to qualify for the knockouts. Yes, the pressure is there. But over the years, because of our consistency, most of the players are used to this pressure,” he added.
-
WATCH: Dhruv Jurel Does A MS Dhoni, Predicts Ollie Pope's Next Move And Helps Kuldeep Yadav Dismiss Batter In IND Vs ENG 5th Test
Jurel showed that he took has the talent of reading the game like the great MS Dhoni from behind the stumps when Pope was dismissed in the first innings of the Dharamsala Test.
-
‘I Discuss Things With MS Dhoni That I Will Never…’, Rishabh Pant Opens Up On Relationship With His Guru Of Cricket | cricket news
Rishabh Pant is aiming to make a comeback to cricket after missing the action for almost one and a half years. The world already knows why he was not playing. The car accident gave him many injuries and Pant is still on the path to come back to full match fitness. He captains Delhi Capitals (DC) in Indian Premier League (IPL) and the franchise have renamed him as the captain for the upcoming season after David Warner led in 2023. Pant’s body was damaged but he his mental strength helped him recover speedily from it.
The cricketer feels he is lucky to have survived that brutal car crash that saw his vehicle flip many a times before it was burnt into ashes. But he has moved on from that terrible night and is focusing on the good and positives.
Also Read | Did You Know: Rohit Sharma Has Acted In A Movie That Also Starred Harman Baweja, Amrita Rao And Anupam Kher
Rishabh was recently seen in IPL 2024 auction in December last year in Dubai. It was the first time that Pant was sitting at an auction table and raised the paddle a few times as well. He continued to stay in Dubai and also parted with MS Dhoni to celebrate the new year 2024. He came back to India in first week of January and since then has been focusing on his rehab at National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru (NCA).
I made my Indian cricket team debut on February 1st, 2017, and I had the privilege of representing my country at the highest level of the sport. A very proud moment and I always get goosebumps thinking about that day!
Resilience was rediscovered by constant reminders to_ pic.twitter.com/dk62g2eoBo — Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) January 31, 2024
In his interview with Star Sports for the ‘Believe’ series Pant opened up about his deep connection with former captain MS Dhoni. He put light on the freewheeling communication and the valuable learning experiences he has had with him.
“I always find it difficult to explain my relationship with MS Dhoni. There are some with whom you can talk freely. I discuss everything with MSD. I have learned so much from him. I discuss things with him that I wouldn’t discuss with. anybody else. That’s the kind of relationship with him,” said Pant.
Rishabh Pant also reflected on his early days in the Indian cricket team, highlighting the supportive and welcoming nature of senior players like Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni, which contributed to his comfort and integration into the team. “In the start, I was very young, and there were a lot of senior players, a lot of them actually. Yuvraj Singh, MS. Dhoni were there, all seniors. It does take some time, but I didn’t get the feeling of them being super seniors. They were very welcoming and made me very comfortable. They make every new player very comfortable. This is the culture of the Indian team.”
In IPL 2024, he will be up against Dhoni again. Dhoni has started training for another IPL. He is 42 years old but is still going on in IPL. In the match between DC and CSK, Pant and Dhoni should be there at the toss. It will be fascinating to see this battle between a guru and his idol all over again.
-
MS Dhoni Invited For Ram Temple ‘Pran Pratistha’ Ceremony In Ayodhya | cricket news
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni is among the special 16 individuals from Jharkhand invited for the Ram Mandir ‘Pran Pratistha’ ceremony on January 22. Former India captain Dhoni’s picture with an invitation from government officials went viral since it got posted.
According to a PTI report, senior RSS functionary Dhananjay Singh handed over the invitation to MS Dhoni at his residence in Ranchi on Monday (January 15). (“Bindaas Khel,” Yashasvi Jaiswal Delighted To Have Rohit Sharma And Co As Seniors – WATCH)
“We handed over the invitation card to him (Dhoni) on behalf of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22,” Singh told PTI.
Checkout the picture here:
MS Dhoni has been invited for Pran Pratishtha of Lord Rama at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. pic.twitter.com/TAS4vf34Ce Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 15, 2024
As per temple officials, the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony will be held for seven days starting on January 16. VVIPs and top dignitaries from diverse fields and occupations receiving invitations from the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the grand event on January 22,
The Trust has made elaborate arrangements to welcome and honor all attendees and will present them with a range of gifts that include ‘Ram Raj.’ As part of the celebration, Teerth Kshetra Trust will also distribute special ‘Motichoor laddus’ made from desi ghee as ‘Prasad’ (ceremonial offering) to the guests.
More than 11,000 guests nationwide have received invitations from the Trust for the Pran Pratistha ceremony, with special arrangements underway to provide memorable gifts to all attendees. (Just Like Brian Lara, Prakhar Chaturvedi Slams 404* In Final Of Cooch Behar Trophy During Karnataka vs Mumbai)
According to a Trust member, the revered Ram Raj soil excavated from the temple will be presented to the guests, serving as a cherished memento. This sacred gift could be poured into earthen pots or used in one’s front or backyards, adding divine grace to their households. Even those unable to attend the Pran Pratishtha program may receive this meaningful gift in future, according to officials. A team of priests led by Lakshmikant Dixit will perform the main rituals of the ‘Pran Prathistha’ of Shri Ram Lalla on January 22.
-
‘I Dropped…’: MS Dhoni Refused To Eat Sea Food At A Hotel And The Chef ‘Froze’ | cricket news
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) MS Dhoni has touched many lives with his kindness. After he retired from international cricket and his social media detachment from last five years, the fans have dug into many stories on internet to know more and more about Dhoni, the person. One such story came from a famous chef who goes by the name of Suresh Pillai.
Dhoni is a celebrity who remains a humble soul despite all the riches and successes he has seen. Chef Suresh revealed one such story when Dhoni made his day. Like chef Suresh, there are number of people who have good memory from the first time they met the ‘Captain Cool’ to realize that he indeed was a very cool captain.
Also Read | IPL 2024: MS Dhoni To Dinesh Karthik; 5 Cricketers Likely To Retire This Year; In Pics
In 2018, during an Indian team visit to Thiruvananthapuram for an ODI against West Indies, chef Suresh had meticulously crafted a special seafood dish for the non-vegetarian members, knowing Dhoni’s fondness for Butter Chicken Masala, as indicated in his X bio. Excitement turned to apprehension when news arrived that Dhoni wished to speak with him in his room.
When the whole world was celebrating the legend and the heart of Indian Cricket yesterday night, I was still in awe of the time I had the privilege of serving him 5 years back.
October 31, 2018. India was playing West Indies in Trivandrum and the team was staying at the Leela,_ pic.twitter.com/UIJSE0SWoZ — suresh pillai (@chef_pillai) May 31, 2023
Chef Suresh, initially frozen with awe at the prospect of meeting his idol, hastily made his way to Dhoni’s room, abandoning the lift in his rush. Contrary to his fears, Dhoni greeted him warmly, inquiring about the evening’s menu. Suresh nervously revealed the seafood preparation tailored for the cricketers, only to learn that Dhoni was allergic and preferred a familiar chicken curry with rice, also requesting a spicy rasam for his sore throat.
Faced with a tight timeframe, the chef hurried to the kitchen, determined not to disappoint the cricketing legend. “Within 20 minutes, I delivered the meal to room no. 302: Chettinad Chicken, Basmati Rice, Roasted Pappadam, and a peppery garlic-infused Rasam,” recounted the chef.
Dhoni relished his meal, clearing his plate contentedly before retiring for the night. The following morning, as he readied himself for the gym, he sought out chef Suresh to express his gratitude once more for the delightful dinner. The chef, deeply moved by Dhoni’s gesture, cherishes the moment when the cricket icon personally thanked him for the meal.