Gautam Gambhir, former India starter and captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders, praised the equation between the owners of Chennai Super Kings and MS Dhoni, calling it a “fabulous relationship.” Gambhir said Dhoni is loyal to CSK because of the way the franchise treats him and is a plan for other teams to treat their successful captains.
Gautam Gambhir said wait Super Kings of Chennai retain MS Dhoni as captain as long as the World Cup winner wants to play and that he wouldn’t be surprised if the skipper were in command with a relatively new team at IPL 2021, which is scheduled to start in just 5 months of the month.
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MS Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings have struggled at the 2020 IPL, failing to reach the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time in their history. CSK has managed just 4 wins in 12 matches and their aging stars failed to shoot. CSK have suffered from the get-go, losing Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh to withdrawals and other injury concerns during the tournament.
MS Dhoni’s personal form has been a cause for concern as the former India captain returned to play the IPL after not having played competitive cricket for over a year. Age is not on Dhoni’s side and CSK desperately needs a makeover, but Gambhir believes Dhoni will be at the helm of the franchise for as long as he wants.
“I keep saying that the reason CSK is CSK is because of the relationship between the owners and the captain. They have given all the freedom to MS and MS has also received all the mutual respect from the owners,” Gambhir told ESPNCricinfo .
“What he’s done for the franchise and how the franchise really deals with MS and treats it is a fabulous relationship.
“So I wouldn’t be surprised if they continue to play MS and MS until the moment he wants to play. And then next year he will continue to be captain and he will have a very different team than he has this time.”
CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan, speaking to indiatoday.in, had said even before the season that MS Dhoni could continue even in the 2022 IPL for the three-time champions. Viswanathan has reiterated that CSK will continue with their beloved captain despite a disappointing season in 2020.
Gambhir said the mutual respect that Dhoni and CSK share shows how the former champions back their patron, who is under pressure after lows for the current season.
“The MS have won them three trophies, a couple of Champions League titles, they have made them one of the best successful teams in the IPL after the Mumbai Indians,” said Gambhir.
“So CSK says they’re going to continue with MS – it’s just the relationship, it’s just mutual respect. That’s why MS has been so loyal. That’s why MS has given it all: heart and soul, its sweat, nights of insomnia – I’m sure he must have had sleepless nights while continuing as captain of CSK. “
CSK will have to play with pride, as they have 2 more games left in the current campaign. Dhoni’s men will face Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday and will face Kings XI Punjab in their final match on Sunday.
