IPL 2021: MS Dhoni Adds New Feather To His Cap, Captains Chennai Super Kings In 200 Matches

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni added a new record to his overflowing basket days after becoming the first player to appear in 200 matches for a single franchise in T20 cricket in the ongoing IPL 2021. He has appeared for CSK in 200 matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Champions League T20 combined.

Dhoni was bought by Chennai Super Kings in the first-ever IPL auction in 2008 for a then-record USD 1.5 mn. Since then, Dhoni has always captained the team, barring in one match, when Suresh Raina led the team and Dhoni played as a wicketkeeper-batsman. He has also played 30 matches for Rising Pune Supergiant in IPL 2016 and 2017 when CSK was banned for 2 years.

MS Dhoni First Player To Captain A Team (Chennai Super Kings) 200 Times In T20 Format

However, he added one more feather to his cap, but this time as a captain. When he walked out for the toss in the ongoing IPL 2021 match against Rajasthan Royals in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, MS Dhoni became the first player to captain one team in 200 T20 matches.

Dhoni has played 201 matches for CSK but he played under Suresh Raina in one of those games in a Champions League T20 fixture in 2012. Virat Kohli, notably, had become the first play to represent a franchise 200 times.

This match is Dhoni’s 207^Th match in the Indian Premier League. He also holds the record for captaining most matches as captain in T20 cricket — 286 matches for Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiant, India, and Indians. The 2nd on the list is former West Indies captain Darren Sammy who has skippered in T20 cricket 208 times.

When recalling his journey in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings, MS Dhoni said he felt old and also took a cheeky crack at the competitiveness between CSK and Mumbai Indians over their home venue in IPL 2021.

“Makes me feel very old and it has been a very long journey [on playing 200 matches for CSK]. It started in 2008 – played in South Africa, Dubai, and back home. Never thought Mumbai would be our home,” he had during the toss.

Chennai Super Kings have played two matches thus far in the IPL 2021 and won one and lost one and have 2 points to their name.

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