Author: Shamik Chakrabarty

Ruturaj Gaikwad was standing at mid-wicket and MS Dhoni was setting the field, adjusting the man at point and moving deep third. During the first strategic time-out, the newly-appointed Chennai Super Kings captain went to his predecessor to pick his brain. By that time, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were already looking jittery, hobbling at 63-3 after nine overs in the IPL opener. Virat Kohli was still at the crease, batting on 11 off 12 balls, opening the innings. But such was the craze for Dhoni at the Chepauk in Chennai, his every move was followed. Kohli’s slow start had somewhat slipped…

Thala checked in, and the ‘king’ stayed away. MS Dhoni looked to be enjoying himself during Chennai Super Kings’ practice at Chepauk on the IPL opener eve. A few lusty hits wowed the onlookers, and the IPL crew, who broke into a collective cheer. At the Royal Challengers Bengaluru corner, Virat Kohli was conspicuous by his absence. Never mind, it was an optional training session. The stage is set, the silver screen stars have been invited for a grand opening ceremony and the first ball of IPL 2024 is just hours away. A face-off between Dhoni’s CSK and Kohli’s RCB…

S Arif, store manager at Dhoni Sports in Chennai, is pretty certain that the 2024 IPL is going to be MS Dhoni’s swansong as a cricketer. Vijaykumar, a die-hard Dhoni fan, who dropped in at Chepauk on Thursday evening, hoping to catch a glimpse of his hero’s training, echoes Arif. Unlike previous years, CSK’s training sessions this term have been off-limits to the visitors and Vijaykumar and his mates couldn’t help but leave disappointed. What makes the likes of Arif and Vijaykumar so sanguine that this year is going to be Dhoni’s last? “It’s been ringing in the air,” Arif…

Just a day before the start of IPL 2024, Chennai Super Kings have changed their captain, with MS Dhoni relinquishing the post in favour of the young Ruturaj Gaikwad. As CSK chief executive Kasi Viswanathan said, the decision has been taken by Dhoni himself. In an exclusive interview with RevSportz, Viswanathan spoke about how the five-time IPL-winning skipper always works in the best interest of the team. Excerpts: Q: The decision to change the captain came as a surprise, but you kept your cards close to your chest and managed it well. Whose decision was it? A: MS Dhoni, along…

The Uber driver from the Chennai airport to the hotel offered a rude shock. The IPL is starting on Friday, with Chennai Super Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chepauk, and he is not interested. He is not interested in MS Dhoni either. A line from Hamlet came to mind, and to paraphrase it — to be an IPL/Dhoni-apathetic as this city goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand. Make no mistake, for two months, from late March to the end of May, Chennai becomes a Dhoni country. The Uber driver was a case in…

Is the upcoming IPL going to be MS Dhoni’s swansong in competitive cricket? The Chennai Super Kings management is leaving it to their skipper himself. “He will decide. You know, we never ask him,” a top CSK official told RevSportz. Dhoni is 42 and the IPL will have a mega auction in 2025 where the franchises will reconstruct their respective teams for the next few years. It will be natural for the teams to build for the future. But Dhoni and CSK have a different kind of relationship, which goes way beyond the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman leading the side on the…

As Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy for the 42nd time, Dhawal Kulkarni’s teammates lifted him on their shoulders. The veteran seamer was bidding adieu to first-class cricket after 96 games, in which he took 285 wickets. Kulkarni got the farewell he deserved. Now, as he saunters into a golden sunset, the 35-year-old spoke to RevSportz about the Ranji triumph and his career. Excerpts: Q: After the final, your teammates lifted you on their shoulders. How did it feel? A: That was one of the most memorable moments of my life. The way my teammates showed respect towards me, I’m very…

The IPL is not going anywhere. The 2024 edition of the tournament will be played entirely in India and a reconfirmation of this came after the Election Commission announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls on Saturday. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal confirmed that there was never any question of taking the IPL abroad. “The BCCI’s position from Day 1 has been that we want to conduct it in India only, under the guidance of the central government. Now that the elections have been announced and we know which states and which cities are going to the polls when, in…

In a positive development, Shreyas Iyer is set to play the IPL from the very beginning, it is learnt. This is despite the fact that the middle-order batsman suffered some discomfort with his back while batting in the second innings during the Ranji Trophy final between Mumbai and Vidarbha. Iyer also didn’t take the field on the fourth and fifth days, but that was a precautionary measure. Iyer was seen doing a jig after Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy. “Shreyas is scheduled to join the KKR camp on Friday. He is unlikely to miss games,” a source told RevSportz.…

India’s visit to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy next year is not going to be formally discussed at the world body’s Board meeting in Dubai on Friday. According to an ICC insider, the Champions Trophy that is scheduled to be played in Pakistan in February-March 2025, is not an item on the agenda. “The Champions Trophy is not on the agenda as far as I’m aware,” an ICC source told RevSportz. The Indian cricket team’s visit across the border for the tournament is subject to the Indian government’s clearance. There is, however, a chance that the Pakistan Cricket Board…