Matthew Hayden, a former CSK player, has revealed his thoughts on skipper MS Dhoni’s presumed final season of the IPL. As word spread that the upcoming IPL season would be Dhoni’s last. Fans and experts from all over wished for the franchise to make Dhoni’s retirement memorable.
Hayden, who played his early IPL years under Dhoni’s captaincy, stated that MS Dhoni would like to leave the IPL on a high note in front of a huge crowd in Chennai. He also stated that his legacy would be lavishly honored during the upcoming IPL season.
Hayden, who was a part of CSK from 2008-10, credited Dhoni for revitalizing and revamping the side over the years.
‘They came back the year after that to win the IPL’ says Hayden
“See CSK, they notoriously find a way to do things unique and special. Take their hiatus out of their IPL, it was unfortunate the two years they weren’t playing. They came back the year after that to win the IPL, it was most unexpected. And they have a way!,”
said Hayden on Star Sports.
“MS Dhoni has a way of revitalising, revamping, making it just a completely different look and feel to the side, even though it’s had this great tag of having complete trust in few players and having retained most of their players,”
he added.
“So for MS Dhoni, I think this year in particular, it’s going to be a year celebrated like no other. It’s the finish I believe of the legacy of MS Dhoni and he will want to go out in style with his fans, who’d want him to go out in style as well,”
he said.
The “captain cool” has been leading Chennai Super Kings for 15 years and helped them win four titles, making them the second most successful team in the tournament. Until 2022, Chennai Super Kings always had the same captain since the tournament started. They briefly gave the captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja, but quickly brought back the original captain Dhoni after the team didn’t do well.
CSK loves their home ground
The former Australian and CSK opener further said that CSK are going to be a difficult team to beat at home. They have a stellar record at Chepauk.
“It’s going to be remarkable, just the amount of supporters. The Yellow Army that is going to pile into the Chepauk Stadium. And they are going to be the same side that’s going to be very difficult to beat at home as well. Their record at home, at Chepauk, is undeniably the best in the IPL,”
Hayden said.
“That venue is a fortress. And they are going to have MS Dhoni as their captain, arguably for the last time. That’s going to be one of those moments that no one is ever going to forget. He has especially stayed on in the IPL to say goodbye to his fans at Chepauk . They are going to turn up like you just couldn’t imagine.”
he added.
Chennai will play the inaugural game of the IPL16 against Gujarat at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 31st March.
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