IPL 2023: Sunil Gavaskar explains why MS Dhoni is a ‘stand-out’ cricketer: Former team India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar was all praise when he talked about Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni. Gavaskar explained how MS Dhoni is a “stand-out” cricketer and leader saying, the glovesman glued his team together despite a gap.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faced a harsh suspension along with Rajasthan Royals in connection with the 2013 betting scandal. As a consequence, the two aforementioned IPL franchises were suspended from participating in IPL 2016 and 2017. The two years ban on the franchise is perhaps the darkest moment in the history of the Indian Premier League.
However, CSK wasn’t in the mood for a hangover, as they made a tremendous comeback in IPL 2018. MS Dhoni led his team to the title victory in IPL 2018 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Praising Dhoni’s captaincy to bring a team together despite a two-year gap, Gavaskar said: “I think when CSK returned and won the IPL trophy, it was absolutely amazing because the team had not been together for two years and they had moved out with different franchises and suddenly they come back again.”
“That tells you leadership. That tells you how the man could get a team together again after that gap. 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,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports Network.
The 1983 World Cup-winning cricketer remembered Dhoni’s one of the knocks where he scored 20 runs off the final over to take his team home.
“I think therefore that particular year and some of the shots that he played, I remember one game where the teams needed 20 odds runs in the final over and he just smashed it around from everywhere from outside the off stump, he was hitting it over long on for sixes!”
“We were used to seeing that from Dhoni but even those little touches of his where he makes a fielder, a player feel 7 feet tall, are the touches that make him stand out from the other,” said Gavaskar.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is set to begin its IPL 2023 campaign against defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 31st March 2023.
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For more details head to IPL’s official website.