MS Dhoni, the former Indian captain and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper, is considered one of the greatest leaders in cricket history. His leadership skills have earned him numerous accolades, including leading CSK to four IPL titles, making him the most successful captain in IPL history.
As Dhoni’s career in the IPL approaches its end, the 40-year-old cricketer dreams of saying goodbye to his fans at the Chepauk stadium in Chennai. His wish will come true in IPL 2023, as the tournament returns to its home and away format after two years.
Despite his reduced playing time and age, Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian cricketer, and commentator, believes that Dhoni could still make an impact on any team on pure leadership skills alone. Speaking about Dhoni’s contribution to T20 cricket, Manjrekar said, “I believe that you can have one player in your team on pure leadership. MS Dhoni doesn’t play regularly, so his impact with the bat is not going to be as much as it was in his prime, but somebody like MS Dhoni, with his leadership experience, you can have him in the team to make a difference with his leadership.”
Dhoni’s leadership qualities have been evident, as he led his team of veterans to the IPL title in 2018. This team, nicknamed the “Old Men Playing IPL Together,” was led to victory by Dhoni’s captaincy and tactical acumen.
As Dhoni prepares to say goodbye to the IPL, his leadership qualities and experience will be sorely missed. However, he will always be remembered as one of the most successful and iconic leaders in IPL and cricket history.