IPL 2018: Our Team Meeting Before The Final Lasted Hardly Five Seconds, Reveals MS Dhoni

Updated - 04 Jan 2020, 11:02 AM

MS Dhoni
Image Courtesy: BCCI

MS Dhoni – Chennai Super Kings had all the odds stacked against them as they prepared to mark their comeback in this year’s Indian Premier League. They were returning to the league after serving a two-year absence imposed on them due to corruption charges.

Before the suspension, the Super Kings had created their own legacy in the league. The Chennai-based outfit was one of the most successful teams in the history of the IPL before being suspended in 2015. The only team which has defended its IPL title so far, the Super Kings had won the league twice-2010 and 2011. In addition, they had also it to the summit clash on four different occasions. They had also won the now-scrapped Champions League T20 twice.

Read More – Most Fours in IPL 2010

Image credits: Cricinfo

However, there were widespread apprehensions that the Super Kings would fail to hit the ground running in their comeback season.  But the apprehensions and doubts went for a toss as the Super Kings once again proved that they and the IPL is a match made in the heaven.

Must Read – Most Fours Innings in IPL 2010

Under MS Dhoni’s inspirational captaincy, the Super Kings defied all the odds to win their third IPL title and cap off their comeback season in a fairy-tale style. Just like their glorious past, they performed consistently throughout to win the title for the first time since 2011.

MS Dhoni has now revealed an interesting thing that might have helped the team hit the ground running after a two-year absence. The 36-year old said that despite the huge task in hand, the players were asked to relax and enjoy.

Read More – Most Sixes in IPL 2010

In fact, if he is to be believed then Super Kings’ team meeting before the 2018 IPL final against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, took all of five seconds.

“I think at that point of time, we were quite relaxed about how we’d conducted ourselves throughout the tournament. And everybody’s role and responsibilities were very clear. So, you need to address something if it really needs to be addressed. You know, there’s no point, just because if there’s a captain and a coach of the team, you’ve to say something,” Dhoni said at an event on Monday (June 11). “The team meeting that we had, lasted hardly five seconds. (Stephen) Fleming was like: ‘Go, get it boys.’ And it got over.”

Must Read – Most Sixes Innings in IPL 2010

IPL 2018
Chennai went on to win their third IPL title. (Credits: BCCI)

“I always have felt that this was one of the secrets why CSK keep doing that (winning the IPL). We don’t have a long list of meetings. We don’t have too many meetings because we’ve played so long each with other, against each other, you know the conditions so well, you exactly know how you need to operate. And there’s no rocket science.

“Yes, we’ve the bowlers’ meetings, the batters’ meeting, and I don’t become a part of the batters’ meeting. A lot of times, people do it because they need to tick a box. And in CSK, there’s no justification that happens… you know that the bowling coach doesn’t need to justify to the owners,” Dhoni added.

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