• Home
  • Match Hub
  • Ms Dhoni Shares Csks Secret Sauce After Qualifying For Playoffs

MS Dhoni Shares CSK's Secret Sauce After Qualifying For Playoffs

image-lhw4ecuhCSK beat DC by 77 runs in Delhi [Image- AP Photo]

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni lauded his management and the players for the success this season after the four-time champions booked their spot in the IPL 2023 playoffs courtesy of a comprehensive win over the Delhi Capitals on Saturday evening.

The Capitals were no match for a red-hot CSK unit on Saturday as the former champions rode on a brilliant 141-run stand between openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (79 off 50) and Devon Conway (87 off 52) to post 223/3 in 20 overs.

In response, the CSK bowling attack kept taking regular wickets, and despite David Warner's magnificent 86, the Capitals could only manage 146/9 in 20 overs.

Speaking to the host broadcaster in the post-match presentation, Dhoni delved on what makes CSK such a successful franchise besides lauding the likes of Tushar Deshpande and Matheesha Pathirana for their development over the course of this season.


Here's what MS Dhoni said:

"There is no recipe for success, you try and pick the best players and give them the best slot to perform. And groom them in the areas where they are not strong, somebody has to sacrifice their slot for the team. Credit to the management as well, they always back us. But, the players are most important, without the players we can't do anything. I think death bowling, confidence is very important."

The Chennai skipper further lauded Tushar Deshpande's efforts with the ball this season. The right-arm seamer got polished well under Dhoni's leadership to become a match-winner for the four-time champions. He also spoke about their Sri Lankan recruit Matheesha Pathirana in length.

"Tushar (Deshpande) has developed because he is able to execute under pressure, he has the confidence now. And when you keep playing the same players, it helps. I think the bowlers have also taken responsibility, Pathirana is quite a natural to bowling at the death but Deshpande has really developed there. I think we need to figure out and pick players who are team first - not bothered about individual performance and perform the best at knockout stages. It is difficult to judge from the outside, we try and adjust to the players and environment as well. Even if they come 10%, we can adjust 50% to fit them better into the team."

Thanks to this 77-run win, CSK have officially qualified for the playoffs. Whether they finish in the top-2, will be clear after the result of the Kolkata versus Lucknow match-up.