Chennai Super Kings become the first team to reach the finals of this year’s Indian Premier League campaign after the BCCI decided to restart the tournament in the United Arab Emirates. The yellow lions led by MS Dhoni have played some scintillating cricket over the course of the tournament and the overall credit goes to the entire team.
However, their captain is responsible for this rebound that Chennai has provided in this year’s IPL. The former India captain has regained his touch this year and has looked in fine form even at the age of 40. Listed below are few points as to how MS Dhoni has revamped the team and guided them towards their 9th IPL final.
1. The intent of Redemption after last season
Last season CSK ended the campaign with 12 points at the 7th spot on the points table. They were above Rajasthan Royals by virtue of their net run rate, however, their overall campaign would be described as a failure of some sort. This season, they have shown clear domination from the beginning of the tournament and did not step back from a fight. The captaincy from Dhoni has been worthy enough to motivate the players and improve their finish from last season.
2. Last year of captaincy in all probabilities
MS Dhoni has been associated with the Chennai Super Kings since the inception of the Indian Premier League. He has been captaining the franchise since 2008 and has successfully guided them towards three IPL titles and managed to reach 11 IPL playoffs. His last dream would be to end his stint with this wonderful team on a winning note and hence the adrenaline rush has motivated him to lead the team from the front.
3. Ability to back his players
The entire nation is familiar with the kind of captaincy that MS Dhoni displays on the field. He is a real leader and a tiger who roars from the front. Players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, and Ravindra Jadeja have been backed by their skippers and have always come out at the top to perform when their team needed them. Leadership from Dhoni has made it possible for these players to play freely and enjoy their game.
4. Ultimate finisher of the game
This season, MS Dhoni has finished multiple games on his own and continues to remind the world of his finishing abilities. He has single-handedly won the game for CSK against teams like the Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings and will be looking for a similar finish in the finals as well. The skipper had finished the ICC Cricket World Cup final 10 years ago in some fashion and we will not be shocked to see a similar end to this year’s IPL.
5. Ability to bounce back
Before the playoffs began, CSK had won only one game and lost three consecutive games on their way to the last four. However, the yellow army has shown great strength in winning the first qualifier and reminding people of their mighty dominance in the tournament. The only way to bounce back from last year’s poor finish will be to win this year’s final on the 15th of October.
