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Last Update: June 02, 2023, 21:16 IST
MS Dhoni has led CSK to five IPL titles so far. (screen grab)
Whenever MS Dhoni came out, be it at the home ground of Chennai Super Kings or not, the crowd was surrounded by waves of yellow jersey and gave him a rousing welcome.
New Zealand and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) left-handed opener Devon Conway has said that charismatic wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni is adored and worshiped in India, adding that the support for him is quite unbelievable .
Dhoni played the entire IPL 2023 season for Chennai with a left knee problem, leading fans and various cricket experts to speculate that the tournament could be the former India captain’s last appearance as a professional cricketer.
Whenever he came out to bat in the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai’s home ground and away matches, the crowd waved the yellow jersey and gave him a rousing welcome. Eventually, he captained Chennai to their fifth IPL title with a four-wicket win over Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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“He (Dhoni) is very much liked in India, he is worshiped a lot there. It’s incredible to see the following and support for them. Every game we had was a home game as all the supporters were traveling to support MS Dhoni. It was special – a different world than the one we’re used to. I don’t think he’s going to be able to do much outside the hotel because of his fame,” Conway was quoted as saying by SENZ Radio.
Conway played a key role in Chennai winning IPL 2023, scoring 672 runs while scoring six half-centuries, being the third leading run-getter in the competition and forming a rock-solid opening pair with Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top.
The opener acknowledged the role of head coach and former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming in helping Chennai get the IPL 2023 title.
“He’s got the respect of the players. The way he runs the show there, he runs a good culture, he also has a good relationship with MS and the franchise owners. His support is very important and valuable to us as a group and as individuals. beneficial,” Conway said.
“I was very happy to have been given the opportunity to open throughout the season and to have been supported by Stephen Fleming and skipper MS Dhoni. It was a proud opportunity for me to step up my game and express myself in the IPL.”
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Asked how much his T20 game has evolved over the years, Conway explained, “Every T20 game has different scenarios, different situations, and how to attack those different moments of the game. It’s great to have to rely on (those) experienced guys. To improve and move forward.”
It was a more spin surface while playing in Chennai, so you can probably have three spinners similar to Lucknow. But if you play at a ground in Bangalore or Mumbai, it will be a bit more batsman-friendly.”
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – IANS,
