Hardik Pandya was threatening to go berserk in the Powerplay overs on a sticky Chepauk wicket when Mahendra Singh Dhoni brought Maheesh Theekshana into the attack on Tuesday evening.
Knowing Hardik Pandya’s fondness for hitting on the off side, Dhoni promptly moved the square leg fielder to point to provide extra protection. It induced Hardik to go over the packed infield to a length ball on a fourth-stump line.
Hardik miscued the cut and Ravindra Jadeja held on to a high chance, sparking a passionate celebration from the Sri Lanka off-spinner. Dhoni’s intuition and spark of the moment decisions have been widely responsible for Chennai Super Kings being a match away from a fifth title.
A year ago, after finishing ninth in the IPL, Dhoni had one simple message for his young teammates: The experience will make you mature, that’s when you capitalise and be a big IPL player for the next 10-12 years.
The CSK captain should get the bulk of the credit for creating an atmosphere where results hardly matter and performing to one’s potential counts. Much like his cool demeanour, Dhoni has never let panic set in the team’s ranks.
Dhoni, 41, admitted at the presentation that he could be an “annoying captain” because he shifts the fielder one or two feet every ball. He even told his fielders that dropping a catch won’t draw a reaction from him but not looking at him could spark trouble.
Shane Watson recalled that the CSK dressing room always had a relaxed atmosphere and never believed in “we must win this game” philosophy. Faf du Plessis, who played at CSK for nine seasons under Dhoni, agreed, highlighting that “it has always been a process-driven franchise and not obsessed with the results”.
“He’s got such a good cricket brain that he relies on it to make the right decisions... He’s got an incredible gut feeling and that’s his biggest strength,” Du Plessis said a couple of years ago.
Dhoni’s instinctive leadership has always been the hallmark of his achievements in white ball cricket: two World Cups, one Champions Trophy, several bilateral and tri-series triumphs besides four IPL titles in 14 appearances.
CSK boss N. Srinivasan once recounted how Dhoni never attended team meetings and left it to head coach Stephen Fleming and bowling coach Eric Simons to give their opinions. He even revealed that Dhoni had once refused to take “one outstanding player” in CSK since he felt the player would “spoil the team”.
Dhoni has often told the team: “You guys have the meeting and let me know about it. Don’t worry, if your plan fails, I have other plans.”
But that didn’t mean he never interacted with the players. His sessions with Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube have resurrected their careers. In Devon Conway, they have probably found another Matthew Hayden. His man management skills and constant guidance from behind the stumps have given young pacers like Matheesha Pathirana and Tushar Deshpande a chance to master their skills at the death.
The way Pathirana, the slinger like Lasith Malinga, has evolved under Dhoni has been exemplary. It was in 2021 that Dhoni showed interest in the youngster after seeing a video of him demolishing batters with yorkers. Pathirana,20, has been remarkable with his accuracy in the death overs turning into one of their deadliest weapons.
When Deshpande, their highest wicket-taker with 21scalps, was straying down the leg side against Mohammed Shami with the fate of Qualifier 1 almost decided, Dhonididn’t forget to let out his displeasure. With a packed offside, there was no need for the pacer to bowl on his pads.
Dhoni can measure a player’s potential and get him to perform. Troubled by a painful knee, he allowed himself to bat only at No.7/8 in this IPL. He practised dwelling only on big hits and the results showed: 104 runs at a strike-rate of 185.71.
Playing without the fear of losing in a result-oriented set-up and in a format that is hugely dependent on luck takes courage and Dhoni has shown that in abundance. No wonder then that the BCCI is keen to have Dhoni in its fold to transform Team India’s fortunes in white ball cricket.
