'MS Dhoni said, my passion for the game is...' - RP Singh reveals untold story of India great ahead of IPL 2024
Updated - 13 Mar 2024, 06:21 PM
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Former Indian pacer RP Singh discussed the remarkable fanbase of legendary MS Dhoni ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. RP Singh attributed MS Dhoni’s extensive fan following to his consistent performance and leadership for CSK over the years.
MS Dhoni shares the record for the most IPL titles won as a captain with Rohit Sharma. He has led the Chennai-based franchise to five titles. CSK clinched a thrilling victory against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2023 final, securing the win on the last ball of the match.
In his 16-year IPL career, the 42-year-old cricketer has captained an impressive total of 226 matches, with over 200 appearances for CSK. Dhoni holds the record for the most IPL wins as captain, with 133 victories, and he aims to add the sixth title to his name this year.
MS Dhoni Has Performed Incredibly For CSK – RP Singh
RP Singh elaborated on the surge in Dhoni‘s fan following during TATA IPL 2023, recalling that anticipation of Dhoni’s potential retirement and the opportunity to witness his live performances contributed to the heightened interest.
“Last year, the fan-following he witnessed was beyond my understanding. Maybe, that’s because it’s been built over the years. MS has performed incredibly for CSK since the beginning and has led them to multiple trophies,” Singh said on Jio Cinema.
“Last year, people thought that it might be his last year as an active player, and it might be their final chance to see him play live. That may have caused a 25 to 30% increase in his fan-following. The moment he wore his pads last year, our viewership increased,” he added.
Despite playing his final international match in 2019, Dhoni has maintained his prowess as a captain in the IPL, leading CSK to triumphs in two of the last three seasons. In the IPL 2023, Dhoni scored 104 runs in eight innings at a remarkable strike rate of 182.46.
MS Dhoni Said, I Want To Play For The Fans – RP Singh
RP Singh recalled a team meeting from 2006-2007 where Dhoni expressed his motivation for playing cricket. Singh emphasized MS Dhoni’s passion for cricket and his aspiration to showcase his skills to a wider audience.
“I remember this team meeting a long time ago in 2006-2007 when we spoke about what drives players to perform. At that time, MS said, ‘When I get off a bus, I feel like two people are looking at me. When will those two turn to four and when will the four turn to 40? My passion for the game is because I want to play for the fans. I want the fans to see that MS Dhoni hits shots like this.’”
Dhoni, renowned for his leadership achievements, stands as the seventh-highest run-scorer in IPL history, amassing 5,082 runs in 250 matches with an impressive average of 38.79 and a strike rate of 135.92. The right-handed batter has also recorded 24 half-centuries.
CSK will kick off their title defense with an eagerly awaited match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Chennai on March 22, which will also serve as the opening fixture of the 2024 IPL season.
