Even as captains of other franchises struggled to explain why certain players were not in the XI, MS Dhoni, the Chennai Super Kings captain, thanked the team management for their behind-the-scenes contributions as he looked forward to a 12th play-off appearance in 14 seasons.
“The management has been great, including the support staff,” said Dhoni after a crushing win over Delhi Capitals confirmed second place in the table and a tantalising Qualifier 1 contest against Gujarat Titans, the defending champions. “They’ve always backed us, they always tell us, ‘Don’t worry, keep doing what you’re doing, you will do well’. So, I feel all these things together, they have a bigger, bigger impact. And I think that’s one of the reasons why we have been successful.”
For him, the character of the players chosen has always been as important as the skills they bring to the team. “I think one thing that’s a bit difficult to figure out right from the start is you need somebody who’s always team first,” said Dhoni. “It’s not about the individual performance. You want them to contribute in the best possible manner. And they’re not worried about the individual performance. What they are looking at is how we are getting into the knockout stages, how we can be consistent, how we can give that match-winning delivery, when it comes to the knockout stages. I feel those are the kinds of characters that we look for.”
Dhoni has also had an incredible knack for coaxing superlative performances from players with no great reputation even in domestic cricket. Tushar Deshpande has been Chennai’s leading wicket-taker with 20 from 14 matches, and his economy rate of 9.52 needs to be viewed in the light of him often bowling the overs at the death when batters swing at everything. “I think when it comes to death bowling, confidence is a very important factor,” said Dhoni. “If you see Tushar from the first game till now, he is somebody who has developed that death-over bowling. And I feel the main reason is confidence. They always execute what is needed, but how many times you can execute under pressure, that’s the main thing.”
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The Chennai story this season has also been about the remarkable renaissance of Ajinkya Rahane, whose 282 runs from nine innings have come at a stunning strike-rate of 170. Such was Rahane’s impact early in the season that he earned a recall to India’s squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
“You try to pick the best players and you try to give them the best slot where they have more chances of performing,” said Dhoni, who has been content to walk in at No.8 in most games even as he manages a knee problem. “You use them in a manner where they have most chances of performing. And at the same time, groom them in the areas where they’re not very strong.
“It may be a batter, may be a bowler. Somebody has to make that sacrifice, you may have to give your slot to somebody else. But somehow, whenever, whatever is best for the team, if you’re doing that, everyone falls into line and they all want to contribute.”
After a disastrous 2022 campaign in defence of the fourth title they won in 2021, Chennai are back where the franchise and its fans believe they belong – in the play-offs and pushing for glory.