Chennai Super Kings (CSK) became the first Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise to organize a camp for its players ahead of the IPL 2021 season, as players and some support staff gathered at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, on March 9 to kick start their preparations.
MS Dhoni besides the IPL trophy (Photo- AFP)
Apart from captain MS Dhoni, many players like Ambati Rayudu, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and others were seen indulging in nets and fielding sessions. CSK fielding coach Rajiv Kumar shed light on the preparations, especially of the 40-year-old CSK captain MS Dhoni and shared how the captain is shaping up for the upcoming IPL 2021.
You Know How Smart MS (Dhoni) Is: CSK Fielding Coach Rajiv Kumar
MS Dhoni didn’t have a very good IPL 2021, both as captain and as a player, given that CSK couldn’t qualify for the playoffs for the first time in their IPL history. CSK fielding coach Rajiv Kumar talked about MS Dhoni’s first week back in training with the franchise, in the first episode of AnbuDen Diaries.
MS Dhoni (Photo- CSK Twitter)
“You know how smart MS (Dhoni) is. He understands his body, he understands his game. Not too many 40-year-old men assess the ball that clearly, and his determination is great to see,” Rajiv Kumar said.
Dhoni had a dismal season in IPL 2021, scoring just 200 runs at a strike rate of 116.27, and didn’t even manage to score a half-century for the first time in his IPL career. MS Dhoni struggled to finish games for the franchise as well.
Rajiv Kumar said that the franchise was trying to figure out how to use MS Dhoni in this season given that he is no longer the finisher machine he used to be, but said that Dhoni had clear plans when it comes to his training.
MS Dhoni during IPL 2020 (Photo- BCCI)
“Every session he is coming with a certain plan, and he is working on it. We are just trying to figure out how to get the east out of him,” said CSK fielding coach.
Chennai Super Kings will start their IPL 2021 campaign against the Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 10. The IPL 2021 will be played across six cities in India- Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bengaluru.
Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium will host the playoffs and the final of the IPL 2021.
Also Read: CSK Oozes Consistency And Loyalty – N Srinivasan Explains Why The Franchise Stuck With MS Dhoni For IPL 2021
