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Tag: MS Dhoni

  • IPL 2021: Makes me feel very old, says MS Dhoni on playing 200th game for CSK

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni in a light-hearted manner said he feels old after knowing that he has now played 200 matches for Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

    Dhoni on Friday evening added another feather to his illustrious cap as he played the 200th game for CSK when he took to the field against Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in match eight of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).

    Dhoni, who has played 206 matches in the IPL, has featured for CSK in the tournament and Champions League T20. He has made 176 appearances for CSK in the IPL besides making 24 outings for the side in the Champions League T20 tournament.

    “Makes me feel very old and it has been a very long journey. It started in 2008 – played in SA, Dubai, and back home. Never thought Mumbai would be our home. In 2011, the last time that we were happy with the Chennai wicket. Before that, there was spin, but it also helped fast bowlers,” Dhoni told host broadcaster Star Sports after the match.

    “After the wicket was relaid, we found it difficult to adjust to conditions. This is a very good wicket, but it depends on the conditions on that day. The ball moved today, but it didn’t swing around a lot. There was no dew and enough seam movement,” he added.

    Right-arm pacer Deepak Chahar picked four wickets before Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali helped CSK register an easy win over Punjab Kings in the IPL match here.

    “Overall the years, he [Chahar] has matured into a death bowler too but he’s somebody who gets more purchase than other bowlers. If you’re looking to attack, why not finish his first four overs. Bravo can bowl at the death. It’s not a secret,” said Dhoni.

    Moeen Ali, who then came into bat at number three, started smashing right from the word go as CSK got a move on. In no time, CSK raced to 64/1 in 10 overs having scored just eight in the first 18 balls.

    Du Plessis kept scoring run a ball but Moeen continued his onslaught as CSK got almost home before he departed in the 13th over with just 17 runs more to win.

    “We felt if Moeen bats up the order, we can make use of the resources that we got. Moeen is a very good timer of the ball and plays authentic shots. We have to make the most of the resources,” said the CSK skipper.

    Chahar had appealed for an LBW but the umpire gave a not out and Dhoni decided not to go for a review against Punjab Kings.

    “I thought that [lbw call] was high and that’s what the bowler needs to take. That’s where the bowler’s input is very important. I always thought DRS is one to take howlers away from the game. You take the gamble when it’s really important or the last over of the game,” Dhoni signed off.

    CSK will next lock horns with Rajasthan Royals on Monday. 

  • DRS is not there to take a chance: MS Dhoni

    By IANS
    MUMBAI: Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni offered a brief lesson on how to use Decision Review System (DRS) that might come in handy for those struggling to use it well like the current Indian team.

    Dhoni, who has been known to be spot on with DRS, opted to not take a review against Punjab Kings batsman Shahrukh Khan after he was hit on the pads by a Deepak Chahar delivery on the very first ball he faced. The umpire had ruled him not out and it seemed from the replays that Dhoni’s decision to not take a review was right.

    “I thought that [lbw call] was high. So told him (Chahar) ‘no we are not reviewing’. I have always felt DRS is there to take the howlers away and not just to take a chance. You only take a chance if it’s the last over of the game or it’s someone very important,” said Dhoni after the match while explaining how he has approached DRS.

    Dhoni, however, praised Chahar for his effort that saw the pace bowler take four early wickets to peg the Punjab franchise back. The right-arm pacer returned with figures of four wickets for 13 runs in four overs.

    Despite being a good death overs bowler, Chahar bowled all his four overs early without a break.

    “Chahar is somebody who has developed as a death overs bowler too. If I’m looking to attack and there is movement I try to bowl him out because he gets more out of the pitch. As a bowling unit we have more resources. I was looking to attack, so bowled his four overs and it helps in becoming fit because to bowl 4 successive overs you need to be fit,” added Dhoni.

  • IPL 2021 PBKS vs CSK LIVE Score: MS Dhoni wins toss, opts to bowl against Punjab Kings

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bowl against Punjab Kings in their Indian Premier League match here on Friday.

    Both the sides are playing an unchanged XI.

    Teams:

    Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni(wk/c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar.

    Punjab Kings: KL Rahul(wk/c), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Shahrukh Khan, Jhye Richardson, Murugan Ashwin, Riley Meredith, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh.

  • AR Rahman dedicates ‘Chale Chalo’ from ‘Lagaan’ to CSK skipper MS Dhoni

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman has dedicated ‘Chale Chalo’ from the movie Lagaan to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni as it motivates to play together. Rahman also dedicated the song ‘Mangta Hai Kya’ from the movie Rangeela to CSK all-rounder Suresh Raina.

    Speaking on Star Sports show Cricket Live, Rahman dedicated songs to CSK stars Dhoni and Raina, “I would like to dedicate the song ‘Chale Chalo’ from the movie Lagaan to MS Dhoni, as it motivates people to play cricket together. And for Suresh Raina, I would like to dedicate the song ‘Mangta Hai Kya’, because whenever I went to Bangalore, they were listening to a lot of songs from Rangeela.”

    Earlier in the day, former India batsman Gautam Gambhir said that Dhoni should bat at number four or five and not below that for his side.

    Dhoni generally comes in to bat at number 7 and in the first game against Delhi Capitals he failed to get going and got out for a two-ball duck. His side lost the game despite setting up a target of 189 as Shikhar Dhawan (85) and Prithvi Shaw (72) provided a flying start to the side and stitched a 138-run stand for the opening wicket.

    Speaking on Star Sports show Cricket Live, Gambhir said, “MS Dhoni should be batting higher, that’s what matters because ultimately people should start leading from the front. We keep mentioning this thing that a leader needs to lead from the front. You can’t be leading, when you’re batting at No.7. Yes, there are issues in their bowling line up.”

    Gautam further added that Dhoni is not as attacking as he used to be and it is better for him to bat up in the order and set his eyes on the ball. “Plus, he is not the MS Dhoni, which he used to be probably four or five years back, where he could just come in and start taking on the bowlers from the word go. For me, I think he needs to bat at number four/ five. Nothing below that,” Gambhir said.

    CSK will next play against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.

  • MS Dhoni needs to bat higher, you can’t be leading when you’re batting at no.7: Gambhir

    Dhoni generally comes in to bat at number 7 and in the first game against Delhi Capitals he failed to get going and got out for a two-ball duck.

  • Dream of taking MS Dhoni’s wicket fulfilled, I’m very happy: Delhi Capitals pacer Avesh Khan

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Delhi Capitals’ fast bowler Avesh Khan was the pick of the bowlers in his team’s seven-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings in their first match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) here at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.

    The 24-year-old, who returned with figures of 2/23, helped the Delhi franchise restrict CSK to 188/7 in their 20 overs before the Delhi Capitals chased the target down in 18.4 overs. The speedster was particularly thrilled about taking the big wicket of MS Dhoni.

    Dhoni batted for just two balls before he was cleaned up by Avesh. The former India skipper looked to play a pull shot, but only managed to get an inside edge back onto the stumps.

    “Three years ago, I had a chance to take Mahi bhai’s wicket, but somebody had dropped the catch. But now my dream of taking Mahi bhai’s wicket is fulfilled, so I am very happy about it. Since he has not played competitive matches for some time, we had planned to put pressure on him and because of that pressure I could take his wicket,” said Avesh in an official Delhi Capitals release.

    The fast bowler said Delhi Capitals will have to maintain the momentum they have attained after winning their first match of the competition.

    “I was quite happy with my performance in our first match, and I am even happier because the team has won. I put the team in a good position with the wickets of Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) and Faf du Plessis. I was happy with the way I carried out the role given to me by the team management. After winning the first match, everyone’s confidence goes up. Now, we have to maintain the momentum,” said Avesh.

    Avesh added that Faf du Plessis’ wicket helped him get into a good rhythm. “Rishabh backed me and gave me the second over of the match and I took a wicket in that over itself. A wicket in the initial part of a fast bowler’s spell is really good for his rhythm. du Plessis is a good batsman and if he continued to play, then he would’ve made things difficult for us.”

    The 24-year-old revealed he hired a dietician ahead of this IPL to improve his fitness. “I have reduced my weight by 5 kg. I have hired a personal dietician and I plan my diet according to the dietician’s directions. My diet plan changes on a day-to-day basis, depending on my gym and training sessions and rest days. Improving my fitness has helped me a lot. I am feeling light, and I feel great when I run. I had to sacrifice some of my favourite dishes for 20-25 days, but that has helped me to stay on track for achieving some of my personal goals,” said Avesh.

    While speaking about the fast-bowling prowess of the Delhi Capitals, Avesh said the Delhi franchise has the best fast bowling line-up in the IPL.

    “I think we have the best fast bowling line-up in the tournament. Kagiso Rabada won the Purple Cap last season, Anrich Nortje bowled the fastest ball in IPL history last season, Ishant Sharma is an experienced bowler and Umesh Yadav has been bowling well in the nets as well. There’s good competition among the fast bowlers in our team,” signed off Avesh.

  • MS Dhoni inspiration behind emergence of keeper-captains in IPL: Rajasthan Royals star Jos Buttler

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals’ English recruit Jos Buttler believes the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the inspiration behind emergence of wicketkeeper-captains in the world’s biggest T20 league, the IPL.

    In the ongoing IPL, four out of eight franchises will be captained by wicket-keepers and Buttler feels the credit should go to Dhoni for setting the trend.

    Besides Dhoni, who has been Chennai Super Kings’ skipper since the inaugural edition in 2008, three more glovesmen — KL Rahul (Punjab Kings), Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals) and Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals) will lead their respective sides in the ongoing IPL.

    “I am sure MSD (Dhoni) has something to do with the sixth sense and breeding of wicketkeepers who can captain. He obviously has been a fantastic captain and there are lots of players who want to follow his footsteps,” Buttler told PTI Bhasha in an exclusive interview.

    Buttler himself a wicketkeeper, feels stumpers enjoy an advantage as captains as they get a 360 degree view of the proceedings.

    “I think a wicketkeeper has a brilliant view of the game. That can add to your decision making as you can see first-hand how the wicket is behaving and the way bowlers are bowling,” he said.

    The 30-year-old Englishman expects Samson to deliver the goods as skipper and termed compatriot Ben Stokes as the X-factor for Rajasthan.

    “We have lots of variety in the team this season with some world-class all rounders like Ben Stokes and Chris Morris and a new captain. Sanju (Samson) is very exciting player and has a long affiliation with the franchise. He is a very calm person and likes to have fun. I am sure he would try and get across that to the team. There will be a lot of passion in his leadership.

    “I strongly believe Ben Stokes will be the X-factor for our team in this season,” said Buttler, who has played 50 Tests, 148 ODIs and 79 T20 matches for England.

    The presence a legend like Kumar Sangakkara as the team’s Director of Cricket will be beneficial for RR, said the cricketer.

    “He (Sangakkara) is a legend and has so much knowledge to share. He has vast experience of international cricket and has played the IPL too. He knows what to expect and it’s a big plus for everyone to have him around,” said Buttler.

    Buttler, who captained England in the final two ODIs of the three-match series in India recently in the absence of an injured regular skipper Eoin Morgan, said that outing was a valuable learning experience for him.

    “Playing against India in India is always the biggest challenge for England team. I mean playing against the best players and getting used to the conditions.

    “Playing against some young Indian players was a great experience. I have enjoyed playing and captaining against India. I have learnt a lot about myself from that experience,” he said.

    Ever since international cricket resumed, the players have been forced to stay in bio-bubbles to avoid contracting the deadly coronavirus, making it extremely difficult for players to stay fresh and motivated.

    With India witnessing an exponential surge in COVID-19 cases, the ongoing IPL is also being held behind closed doors.

    “Playing without fans and living continuously in bio-bubbles is difficult. You have to learn to live without the energy that the crowd brings to the stadiums in IPL,” Buttler said.

    “Pressure and excitement is still there but they are not visible. Certain times you have to raise your energy and intensity, which the crowd used to generate earlier.”

    Rajasthan Royals will open their IPL campaign against Punjab Kings in Mumbai on Monday.

  • IPL 2021: CSK captain MS Dhoni blames poor bowling execution for DC defeat

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said his bowlers will have to pull up their socks after a “poor” outing against Delhi Capitals in their IPL opener here on Saturday.

    Chasing 189 for victory, DC romped to a seven-wicket victory with eight balls to spare after Shikhar Dhawan (85) and Prithvi Shaw (72) struck blistering half-centuries.

    “We could have bowled slightly better, and if batters are hitting you over the fields, that’s fair enough.

    “The execution of the bowlers was poor and there were boundary balls that they bowled, but the bowlers will have learned and they will apply that in the future games,” Dhoni said at the post-match press conference.

    DC’s new skipper Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to bowl in the game and Dhoni said the dew factor played in their minds.

    MATCH REPORT: Openers Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw help DC crush CSK by 7 wickets

    “A lot depended on dew, and that factor played on our mind from the start and that’s why we wanted to get as many runs as possible. The batters did a good job to reach 188, because it was tacky until dew settled in 50 minutes later. The opposition have half an hour advantage in a 7:30 start, when the pitch is really tacky and the ball stops a bit, so we need to get 15-20 runs extra to be sage.

    “If we get dew consistently, then 200 will be a must on a pitch like this.

    The bowlers bowled a great line when it was stopping and seaming a bit, and the openers got really good balls in which they got out and that can happen in a game like this,” Dhoni said.

    Earlier, Suresh Raina announced his IPL comeback with a blazing 36-ball 54 and powered his team to a solid 188 for seven.

    Sam Curran smashed 34 off only 15 balls to prop up the CSK innings towards the end.

    Curran hit four fours and two sixes.

  • MS Dhoni asked me to bowl slow bouncers, cutters and it’s been useful: T Natarajan

    Natarajan, who bowled a maximum 71 yorkers among all pacers in the last IPL, dismissed big names such as Dhoni and AB de Villiers during the season.

  • IPL 2021: It’s raining sixes at CSK nets as skipper MS Dhoni looks in ominous touch

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni would like to see his team get back to winning ways in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). One of the most successful IPL teams, CSK failed to reach the playoffs last year and Dhoni is leaving no stone unturned to make sure the side gets back to form ahead of the 14th edition.

    CSK on Monday shared a video from the team’s net session, where the former Indian skipper was seen whacking sixes all around the park. Dhoni fired on all cylinders as he muscled the ball in the nets during the practice session.

    “Thala Paraak fully loaded! #WhistlePodu #Yellove,” CSK captioned the post on Instagram.

    Dhoni has hit most sixes in the IPL for an Indian batsman. In 204 games, the CSK skipper has smashed 216 sixes while Chris Gayle with 349 maximums under his belt is leading the charts.

    Last week, batting coach Michael Hussey said CSK is a balanced squad as it has most bases covered to take on teams in the IPL.

    CSK picked up six players at the 2021 auction, headlined by off-spin bowling all-rounders Moeen Ali and Krishnappa Gowtham, after buying top-order batsman Robin Uthappa in a trade with Rajasthan Royals.

    “I think they are all excellent additions. Moeen is an excellent all-rounder, Robin has a lot of experience and has been a quality performer in the past and Gowtham has some genuine talent that we can look to develop further,” the CSK website quoted Hussey as saying.

    “I feel we have a very balanced squad that has most bases covered and with depth in most areas. The guys are in really good spirits and have been and are preparing extremely well,” he added

    The Super Kings are currently training in Mumbai where they play their first five matches of IPL-14 beginning with a game against Delhi Capitals on April 10.