How did MS Dhoni prepare for the IPL 2020 campaign?
The Indian Premier League’s 13th edition may be postponed currently – and a start date may be up in the air – but the cricketers that were set to play in the 2020 campaign are still making headlines. Renowned Indian wicketkeeper MS Dhoni is one such player that continues to be in the news, although unlike some, for good reasons. Dhoni is one of the main talking points while we wait for the new IPL season and whether its riding his new tractor or talking about batting, the Indian cricket legend continues to turn heads. The IPL season isn’t too far away and cricket fans are anticipating the return of the tournament. Fans can get a bonus code to wager on the IPL matches when they resume and bet on the teams, they believe will win.
Chennai Super Kings teammate Suresh Raina recently revealed how Dhoni prepared for the IPL season prior to its postponement. The wicketkeeper was in preparation for his 11th IPL campaign with the Super Kings and despite being 38-years-old was expected to be a major player once more.
The two long-time Chennai Super Kings stars met up at the club’s training camp in early March with around 26 days to prepare for the original March 29th start date to the cricket tournament. According to Raina, Dhoni took training lightly with his main focus on gym work rather than playing on the cricket pitch when the camp began. Once Dhoni had completed a few days of gym work focus, the wicketkeeper moved onto the pitch for much of his training.
Over the years, Dhoni has impressed cricketers from all over the globe with his play from Indian to English players, and despite his age, continues to wow. The wicketkeeper was impressive in camp with his fitness levels. In spite of showing his usual brilliance in pre-tournament practice, Dhoni’s preparations were different in 2020 than in years past.
Super Kings bowling coach Laxmipathy Balaji spoke to the media during training camp stating that Dhoni “was lookign fit”. The wicketkeeper and teammates put in around five hours of work during camp per day to reach maximum fitness levels for the tournament.
Dhoni has played 190 career IPL cricket matches scoring 4,432 runs with a 42.21 average. The wicketkeeper led Chennai Super Kings to the 2010, 2011, and 2018 IPL Championships. The Super Kings also captured the 2010 and 2014 T20 Champion League trophies behind the play of Dhoni.
An argument can be made that Dhoni, even at 38, is the most important cricketer in the world today. He captured all ICC trophies as a captain and helped leaded India to the No. 1 rankings in test, one day international, and T20 cricket.
Yet, the reason Dhoni is the most important player in cricket could be his influence on the players around him. Raina is one of those players to improve and the batsman has credit Dhoni for his help. As a captain, Dhoni allowed Raina to “bat freely” while knowing his “capability”. Dhoni’s work as a captain has been the difference between Chennai Super Kings winning IPL Championships and coming up short in years past. Could he Super Kings to another IPL title in 2020?
