In anticipation of the opening clash of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on March 22, CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni expressed his excitement about the diverse pool of players that the IPL brings together. He emphasized how the tournament offers a unique opportunity for players from around the world to come together in a single team, allowing him to learn about their backgrounds and skills.

Helicopter landed in chennai 😉💛 #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/Pm0Q5ppkJH

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— Jayprakash MSDian™ 🥳🦁 (@ms_dhoni_077) March 4, 2024

“The Chennai team that played in 2008 was a well-balanced team and had a lot of all-rounders. The team had a vast pool of experienced players such as Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, Muttiah Muralitharan, Makhaya Ntini, and Jacob Oram. To get them all together in one dressing room, to get to know each other was a challenge,” Dhoni said.

“I always believed that when you’re leading a team, it is important to make sure you understand each other. Once you know the individual, you know his strength, his weaknesses, it becomes easier as a team to move in the right direction,” he said.

MS Dhoni on 2008 CSK Squad

Reflecting on the rich history of CSK, Dhoni recalled the star-studded roster of the team’s inaugural season in 2008, which boasted legends like Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, and Muttiah Muralitharan among others. In a video shared by Star Sports on social media, Dhoni reminisced about the formidable lineup that made CSK a force to be reckoned with in the early years of the IPL.

“IPL gave me an opportunity to understand a lot of foreign players. I wasn’t somebody who talked a lot to the opposition players but IPL provided an opportunity to know about other players, to know what they think about cricket, to know their culture. All of that made IPL very interesting,” he added.

Away from the cricket field, Dhoni and his wife Sakshi were seen attending the pre-wedding festivities of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Jamnagar over the weekend, adding a touch of glamour to the social scene. Dhoni’s presence at such events highlights his status not just as a cricket icon but also as a prominent figure in the social circuit.

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