IPL 2023: MS Dhoni and his art of getting the best out of unexpected players

Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni’s legacy as a leader is written in golden words in IPL history. Not only Dhoni is deemed as one of the most successful IPL captains but also regarded as the most astute leader in the pantheon of cricket history.

There is something special about this great man, who makes everything look so simple but it is not. IPL is the toughest cricket league in the world with the best players from across the globe, plying their trade. It’s not easy to get persistent results in such a competitive league and Dhoni seems to have a solution for every tangled situation, like a great problem solver and as always there are no panic buttons. And if there are any, he never puts them on display for anyone.

He is a master at staying two steps ahead of the opposition and though he might be the oldest lion of this jungle, he is still proving why he is the most potent and it is not a cakewalk by any means to acquire his realm.

In fact, CSK had finished in ninth place in IPL 2023 as they could only win four out of their 14 games and just finished above five-time champions Mumbai Indians to avoid the cellar-dwellers tag. However, bouncing back in the IPL is not alien for Dhoni and Messrs.

So what is Dhoni’s success stratagem? “You try and pick the best players and give them the best slot to perform,” he said after CSK qualified for the playoffs after winning their last league stage match against Delhi Capitals by a Brobdingnagian margin of 77 runs.

Three players – Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, and Tushar Deshpande – played a key role in helping CSK qualify for the playoffs, and not many would have expected this trio to be instrumental in the franchise’s success and that’s what makes Dhoni different – his ability to get the best out of the unexpected players.

Ajinkya Rahane, who is not known for his pyrotechnics, batted like a free bird under the tutelage of MS Dhoni and fear of getting dismissed was not to be seen in his batting. Rahane came to the crease, he saw the ball and tried to tee off in every innings he played. The former Indian vice-captain scored 282 runs in nine innings at an average of 35.25 and a strike rate of 169.87, which is well above his IPL career SR.

Shivam Dube scored 289 runs in 11 matches of IPL 2022 and he could have found himself on the sidelines this season if he had been playing for some other team but this is what separates CSK and Dhoni from other sides – their trust to back a player to the hilt. Dube was given his chances in the middle order and he grabbed them with both hands, amassing 385 runs in 12 innings at an average of 38.40 and a blitzkrieg strike rate of 160.41 and thus played a key role in taking his team to the playoffs.

Tushar Deshpande also grew in confidence under the leadership of MS Dhoni as the tournament progressed. Though the fast bowler proved to be expensive in his spells however he got the crucial wickets for the team at the crunch situations of the game. Moreover, he improved his bowling in the death overs.

Deshpande scalped 20 wickets in 14 league stage matches at an average of 23.25 and he is the leading wicket-taker for CSK thus far this season.

Meanwhile, Dhoni had a mundane run as a batter in the last couple of seasons as he failed to rotate the strike in the nascent stage of his innings, especially while playing against the spinners. However, Dhoni showed there is still some fuel left in his tank as he smashed 103 runs in 10 innings at an average of 51.50 and a whirlwind strike rate of 190.74 and ergo added the finishing touches for the team.

Dhoni took a lap of honor after Chennai was beaten by KKR at the Chepauk, hinting this could be his swansong season in the IPL. However, CSK Kasi Viswanathan believes Dhoni is going to play next season as well. Will he return for the last hurrah, time will tell.