IPL 2023: Sunil Gavaskar applauds MS Dhoni’s leadership ahead of IPL 2023

MS Dhoni is hailed as one of the finest captains in the history of Indian cricket. Veteran batter Sunil Gavaskar applauded MS Dhoni’s leadership skills shown during IPL 2018 when CSK made a remarkable comeback after 2 years.

CSK and RR were suspended for two years for their involvement in a corruption scandal after which the two franchises couldn’t participate in IPL 2016 and IPL 2017. MS Dhoni-led side then played consistently well throughout the season and went on to clinch the IPL 2018 title.

“I think when CSK returned and won the IPL trophy, it was absolutely amazing because the team had not been together for two years and they had moved out with different franchises and suddenly they come back again. That tells you leadership,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

“That tells you how the man could get a team together again after that gap. Sometimes you know, first year, second year there is a team spirit that happens but to get all of them together after the gap is remarkable,” Sunil Gavaskar further added

CSK’s victory in IPL 2018

The Chennai Super Kings franchise bought back all of their key players in the mega-auction and IPL draft ahead of IPL 2018. Along with MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina Ravindra Jadeja, Faf du Plessis and Dwayne Bravo came back into CSK’s squad. 

CSK also went on to buy some big players like Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu and Deepak Chahar to provide strength to their core squad. The team management made sure to create a deadly combination of new and old players. 

In IPL 2018, MS Dhoni too looked in red-hot form as he amassed 455 runs in 16 matches. More importantly, he scored with an average of 75.83 and hit three crucial fifties and finished most of the games for CSK. CSK finished at the second position in the league stage. The Yellow brigade then defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in the final to lift the IPL 2018 trophy. 

In IPL 2023, CSK will begin their campaign against the Gujarat Titans on March 31 against the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The yellow brigade will look to start its campaign on a high note after having a terrible outing in the previous edition.