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Lakshmipathy Balaji on MS Dhoni: The CSK players will be handled by one of the greatest captains

MS Dhoni is India's most successful captain and one of the successful captain in the Indian Premier League as well.

MS Dhoni © AFP (file image)
MS Dhoni © AFP (file image)

MS Dhoni is India’s most successful captain and one of the successful captain in the Indian Premier League as well. He has led Chennai Super Kings to five finals and won two of them. CSK’s bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji who has played under MS Dhoni reveals him giving bowler their freedom and space to express themselves.

Dhoni will give you the freedom

“Dhoni doesn’t involve much and only when a bowler is really thrown into a corner he takes over. He will give you challenges and let you be in your space to understand them. He will not compel a bowler to do something which is not the bowler’s style. That I have experienced as a player. On the field, you will be handled by one of the greatest captains. Dhoni will give you the freedom. Apart from that, you will learn to swim on your own under Dhoni’s leadership,” Balaji said told the Times of India.

Balaji also talked about how Dhoni nurtures players from IPL to International level. He adds about how he assigns certain roles to players and ends up producing them on international level.

“MS has the capabilities to produce (talented) cricketers. Someone like a Gony or Mohit, they went on to become the cricketers they were and it was MS who produced such cricketers. I wouldn’t be surprised if MS produces such cricketers again. He analyses and assigns them specific roles and that is what makes MS standout as a leader. He identifies these cricketers, persists with them and ends up producing them.”

Ambati Rayudu who have been a regular Mumbai Indians member in IPL will be playing for CSK this season. Rayudu talks about how Dhoni keeps the dressing room cheerful. He even calls him a born leader.

He is a born leader

“He has been successful and won two World Cups for India. What more can a captain do. I think he has a knack of picking players and keeping the dressing room atmosphere really conducive to play good cricket. He is a born leader and has it in him naturally.”

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