IPL 2023 – I can be a very annoying captain: MS Dhoni

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni expressed his self-awareness as a “very annoying captain” after leading his team into the final of the 16th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). CSK defended a total of 172 in the Qualifier 1 against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at Chepauk, emerging victorious by 15 runs. The bowlers showcased a collective effort, with Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Ravindra Jadeja, and Matheesha Pathirana picking up crucial wickets to restrict GT to 157 runs in their allotted 20 overs.

Reflecting on his captaincy style, Dhoni revealed that he often directs his fielders to make slight adjustments in their positions, which can be quite frustrating for them. He stated, “You see the wicket, you see the conditions and according to that, you keep adjusting the field. I can be a very annoying captain because I shift the fielder one or two feet here and there every time.” Dhoni acknowledged that his constant instructions to the fielders could be bothersome, but he emphasized that it is a result of his gut feel and understanding of the game. He further mentioned, “I always say I believe in my gut feel, I see the wicket, the line, what is really happening and more often than not, it pays off. The only request I ask from the fielders is ‘keep an eye on me, if you drop a catch, there won’t be any reactions but just keep an eye on me.'”

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Ruturaj Gaikwad was awarded the Player of the Match for his crucial knock of 60 runs off 44 deliveries on a challenging pitch. In the early stages of the game, Gaikwad was caught out by GT pacer Darshan Nalkande. However, Nalkande had overstepped the crease, resulting in the delivery being deemed a no-ball and providing a lifeline to the CSK opener.

With their impressive performance, CSK has secured a spot in the IPL final and will continue their pursuit of the championship title. As the team progresses in the tournament, MS Dhoni’s tactical and sometimes “annoying” captaincy style will be instrumental in guiding CSK towards success.