KKR mentor DJ Bravo reveals a special CSK bond with MS Dhoni

Mayank

Dwayne Bravo praised MS Dhoni while speaking about their bond [Source: ItzThanesh/X.com]Dwayne Bravo praised MS Dhoni while speaking about their bond [Source: ItzThanesh/X.com]

West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo was inarguably one of the most influential parts of the Chennai Super Kings setup during their reign as the most dominant team in the league, clinching five titles and making it to the playoffs every season during the 2010s and finished his time with them as their all-time leading wicket-taker.

As a part of the CSK core group for over a decade since joining them in 2011, he has spoken highly of the way his captain, MS Dhoni, treated him with respect and kept the environment where players could thrive, calling him a brother from a different mother.

Dwayne Bravo opens up on his bond with MS Dhoni

Speaking about his CSK debut against the Rajasthan Royals in 2011, the all-rounder recalled a story from his first over when the duo gained each other's trust immediately when he bowled the first over for them.

"In my first over [on CSK debut], he asked me about my field. I told him what I wanted, and after that moment, he never told me anything about field placement again. I felt that he gained my trust. He was like, 'This guy knows what he is doing.' From there on, we called each other brother from a different mother. He just allowed me to be me,” he said at Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid's Beard Before Wicket podcast.

Later on during the same conversation, he spoke about another incident from the year when CSK returned after a ban in 2018, where Dhoni told Bravo about the importance of his four overs.

"One time in 2018, I dived while fielding at long-on. I was older. After the over, he told me, 'Don't ever dive on my field ever again.' He said my four overs were more important than saving four runs. After that, I started fielding in the circle. That is the kind of thing he does. He knows what you are good at and wants you for that reason. He does not want you to try to be anybody else." Bravo added.

Bravo's role in CSK's dominance

Bravo played a key role in making CSK what it is today with his pinpoint death bowling, using his speed variations and stopping oppositions' run-flow and also ended as purple cap winner in two seasons (2013 and 2015). His 32 wickets in 2013 are still the most wickets scalped by a bowler in a season of the league's history alongside Harshal Patel, who replicated the numbers in 2021.

He played 130 matches for them across IPL and Champions League T20, picking 154 wickets and scoring some crucial runs lower down the order, accumulating 1280 runs in 86 innings. He won three IPL and one CLT20 titles with them.