Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has dismissed speculations surrounding a reported rift between Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni during the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Akram emphasized the impact of social media in today’s age, where even unfounded news can quickly go viral.
Following Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) victory over Delhi Capitals (DC) in a league stage clash of IPL 2023, a video depicting an animated conversation between Dhoni and Jadeja circulated widely on social media platforms, sparking rumors of discord between the two star cricketers.
However, Jadeja himself dedicated CSK’s IPL 2023 triumph to Dhoni after smashing the winning runs in the final against Gujarat Titans (GT). In an emotional moment, the Chennai skipper lifted the all-rounder during the post-match celebrations following the team’s thrilling last-ball victory.
During a discussion on Sportskeeda, Akram dismissed all speculation of a rift, stating:
“In today’s age of social media, someone can sit at home, write a piece of news, and it becomes viral. I don’t know how many years Jadeja has been playing for CSK. Dhoni has been backing him and instilling confidence in him. Dhoni has been leading Jadeja for so many years. Why would Jadeja have a rift with him? Knowing Dhoni, if he has any issues, he will communicate with Jadeja and resolve them. Jadeja himself admitted that his captain’s support was instrumental in his performances. This is what leading from the front looks like. Both of them deserve commendation.”
In the IPL 2023 final held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, CSK were set a revised target of 171 runs in 15 overs. With 10 runs required off the last two balls for victory, Jadeja unleashed a six and a four against Mohit Sharma, securing a remarkable win for the Chennai Super Kings.