The importance of being MS Dhoni in the Indian Premier League

by Devdeep Tyagi March 31, 2023 · Caught At Point / Chennai Super Kings / Mahendra Singh Dhoni / Stories

The importance of being MS Dhoni in IPL 2023: Dhoni’s last IPL stint is here and it’ll all come to an end in a matter of a month and a half.

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There are statistics belonging to the IPL that suggest a career in progress. At the moment, you can think of lads like Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, Ravi Bishnoi, Odean Smith, Cameron Green to quote a few. They’ve only just begun.

Then there are statistics that though are meant to draw comparisons, actually succeed in fomenting endless debates. Think of discussions like who was the more impactful batsman at the RCB- Kohli or AB?

Who has been the more threatening hitter in the MI camp over these years- Pollard or Rohit?

And then there are statistics that simply generate awe and inspire just as much. Regardless of what franchise camp you belong to or where might your allegiance as a fan rest, you cannot help but admire them.

Which is when you think of a series of numbers that are really second to none where it comes to sheer brilliance.

MS Dhoni is one of the most successful IPL players. MS Dhoni, a renowned cricketer, holds the prestigious position of captain for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Under Dhoni’s leadership, the team has achieved remarkable success, securing championship titles in the 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021 editions of the IPL league.

In essence, 1384 of those runs came fundamentally by way of just fours while 1374 runs came via sixes and sixes alone.

Though truth be told, the real impact of Mahendra Singh Dhoni goes beyond the big boundaries and the towering sixes.

Captain cool to some, while ‘Thala’ to the doting fanbase of his CSK and the man with an avuncular presence to the budding youngsters around; Dhoni is all this and more.

Today, if one regards the Indian Premier League as, arguably speaking, the most popular and fastest growing franchise-based league anywhere in the world, then a huge part for its fleeting success goes to Dhoni’s excellence.

Unfettered excellence, great consistency and unfaltering desire for success are deeply embedded in his DNA.

In some sense, it may not be entirely incorrect to state that the real measure of MS Dhoni’s success is that it has, quite simply, brought out the best in so many who’ve played alongside.

Which is why he doesn’t only have fans who sit in the stadia wherever the big man plays; even his very colleagues become his fans.

There are those who might sacrifice anything for the lad. Think of Suresh Raina, another IPL great. The sense of brotherhood the duo formed. The self belief that further amplified Raina and Dhoni’s great batting.

Think of the likes of Deepak Chahar, who Dhoni gave immense confidence to, backing the right arm seamer on every possible occasion.

It is a matter of fact that Kohli can’t get enough of his former senior India colleague. De Villiers has been deeply impressed by Dhoni’s contributions to shaping the cult that is the IPL.

Faf has openly admitted that the Indian cricketer he most enjoys talking about the game to is none other than Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Respected by opponents and loved by fans- old and young alike- Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s perpetual success has enabled the IPL to punch above its weight.

How so? Where else can you find a giant of the game still remaining associated with cricket well after his memorable India career (national duties) ended?

But, it could be argued that the real success of Dhoni has more to do with his conduct than just those exemplary statistics; there’ve been countless pressure situations where Dhoni could’ve lost the wits about himself but he didn’t.

Part philosophical, part practical, there’s no drama or theatrics about MS Dhoni; just pure authenticity. All of which may have helped to perpetuate his glowing legend.

In a recent television interview to a leading news channel, when asked about how he is able to maintain his cool, the famous son of Ranchi admitted, “I don’t focus on the results, and choose to remain in the now.”

And speaking of the now, while we know that Dhoni’s last IPL stint is here and it’ll all come to an end in a matter of a month and a half, it is also important to participate in all that the great man is capable of delivering this time around.

Dhoni played 234 IPL games. 4978 runs. He has an exceptional record as a finisher and captain. A highest unbeaten score of 84. A strike rate of 135. Batting average of 35. No fewer than 24 half-centuries. 346 boundaries and then, 229 sixes.