Chennai Super Kings defeated Gujarat Titans, the defending champions, by 15 runs in the Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 at the Chepauk Stadium on Tuesday night. While a superb 87-run opening partnership laid the platform for CSK, the bowlers rose to the occasion to seal a spot in the grand finale for the Yellow Army.
The biggest question heading into the game was whether it was MS Dhoni’s final appearance in Chennai. Answering the query during the post-match presentation, Dhoni said that he had ample time to decide on his retirement, before adding that he would always be there for CSK, regardless of whether that was in an on-field or off-field role.
“I don’t know,” said Dhoni, when asked about whether he would play in front of his adoring followers at Chepauk again. “But it takes a toll. I have eight to nine months to decide. Why take that headache now? I’ll always be there for CSK.”
This will be the tenth final for Dhoni and CSK. Despite having won four times in the past, Dhoni was in no mood to play down this achievement, after a disastrous season in 2022. “IPL is too big to say it’s just another final,” Dhoni told the host broadcaster at the post-match presentation. “It used to be eight top teams, now it’s 10. I won’t say it’s just another final. It’s hard work for two months. Everybody has contributed. Yes, the middle-order has not got ample opportunity. GT are a fantastic team and they’ve chased very well, so the thought was to get them in. But it was a good toss to lose.”
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The key spell came from Ravindra Jadeja, who had briefly replaced Dhoni as the franchise captain in 2022. “If Jaddu gets conditions that help him, he’s very difficult to hit,” said Dhoni. “His bowling changed the game. Not to forget his partnership with Moeen.”
Dhoni’s greatest achievement this season, however, has been to bring through some inexperienced pace bowlers. Tushar Deshpande has 22 wickets for the season, while Matheesha Pathirana has been a revelation. “We try to create an environment and work out what is the strength of a fast bowler,” said Dhoni. “We try to give them confidence and tell them ‘please try to explore your bowling’. We try to motivate them as much as possible. The support staff are there, [Dwayne] Bravo and Eric [Simons] are there.
“You see the wicket and according to that, you keep adjusting the field. I can be a very annoying captain. I keep shifting fielders two to three feet. Only request I have of the fielders is, keep an eye on me. If there’s a dropped catch, there will be no reaction (from me), just keep an eye on me.”
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Hardik Pandya and the Gujarat Titans will get another opportunity to make the final in Qualifier 2 on Friday, in front of their home crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Pandya, who won the title in his first season as captain in 2022, was full of praise for Dhoni, under whom he took his first steps in international cricket.
“That’s the beauty about him (Dhoni), with his mind and the way he uses the bowlers, it feels like he’s adding 10 runs,” said Pandya. “We kept losing wickets, he kept changing the bowlers, credit to him. Would be nice to meet him on Sunday.”