MS Dhoni (Left) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (Picture Credit: Sportzpix)
Graeme Smith, IPL Expert, JioCinema shares his views on MS Dhoni’s captaincy and mindset in IPL 2023, and also talks about the most promising player of the season
At 41, MS Dhoni continues to shine in IPL 2023 with a remarkable strike rate of 204.25, making it one of the standout performances of the season. As the captain of Chennai Super Kings, his exceptional performances on the field have enthralled the fans, which is evident from the packed stadiums dressed in vibrant yellow jerseys.
There are many reasons behind his immense popularity: his power-hitting skills, shrewd captaincy, unwavering composure and the iconic helicopter shot that fans eagerly await at the end of each match. However, Dhoni’s impact this IPL goes beyond his individual brilliance, as he has emerged as a guiding light for many young talents, especially within the CSK squad. His influence is more than numbers, making him an icon and an inspiration for aspiring cricketers.
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20-year-old Mathesa Pathirana, who has been the most impressive bowler for CSK in the ongoing IPL, is known to be a student of Dhoni’s master class. He has picked up 12 wickets at the death for CSK, the most by a bowler this season. Many former cricketers have credited Dhoni for grooming Pathirana and shaping him into one of the finest bowlers. These include former South African captain Graeme Smith, who turned IPL expert on JioCinema, who believes Dhoni has shaped many of the young bowlers in the team.
Smith said this in a conversation with select media cricket nextDhoni has been impressive with the bat and also with his tactical skills in the ongoing IPL.
“Dhoni’s leadership is integral. This season he has made some impact with the bat. Playing at home in Chepauk (Chennai) is a huge strength for MS. CSK have a great combination of good batsmen and spinners who have consistently done well for the team. He (Dhoni) has groomed many young bowlers and cleverly he knows how to use bowlers like Pathirana.
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Smith further commented on Dhoni’s ‘special quality’ that sets him apart from other captains in the IPL. “There is so much information available in today’s world but the calmness with which he (Dhoni) manages to take his decisions very simply, without any truncation and without any nervousness, which is usually the case,” he said. But is seen with some other teams. , makes him different. He and the coaches find the right combination and they really back him.”
most promising ipl player
Smith looked thoroughly impressed with Dhoni for his batting and captaincy, but another player who astounded the IPL expert is 21-year-old Rajasthan Royals batsman, Yashasvi Jaiswal. Responding to a question about the most promising player this season, Smith was quick to answer – Yashasvi Jaiswal.
“Yashaswi Jaiswal is someone who has stood up for me this season,” Smith said.
However, Smith also pointed out that so far in the season, they haven’t found any young Indian spinners who could be an asset to the Indian cricket team in the near future.
He said, ‘I am looking for the next Indian dynamic spin option. There are spinners who are at the top of their game and they have been around for a long time and even though they are not going anywhere, we need to keep an eye on the youngsters. The spin options, especially the leg spinners are an asset to Indian cricket so I look forward to seeing how this develops in a couple of years as it needs a bit of work. But, the one who has stood out so far has definitely been Jaiswal.”
Yashasvi Jaiswal, one of the leading run-scorers of IPL 2023, holds a strong case to clinch the Orange Cap. He has scored 575 runs in 12 matches including a century. He also scored the fastest half-century (13) in IPL history and the young batsman credited senior players like Dhoni for such a stellar performance.