dhoni

‘A mixed feeling of relief, emotion…’: Dinesh Karthik reveals why he decided to retire from IPL | Cricket News

Danijones5 months ago05 mins

NEW DELHI: Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has stated that while he is in peak physical condition to continue playing professional cricket for another three years, the mental demands of the game have led him to step away. The 38-year-old, who recently announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), shared his thoughts.Speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik, who played his final IPL match against Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator at the Narendra Modi Stadium this year, emphasized that physical fitness has never been a concern for him. “I think I am physically very much prepared to play for another three years. Especially with the Impact Player rule, it becomes that much easier. Touch wood, I have never missed a game because of an injury through my three decades. I’ve been blessed that way. I was never worried about my body or my fitness,” he said.However, Karthik admitted that the mental aspect of the game has been more challenging. “It was all about the mental side of things, whether I’ll be able to push as much in the lead-up to the tournament, whether if I don’t play as many matches, will I be okay with it,” he added.Reflecting on what kept him motivated after a challenging IPL season last year, Karthik revealed his intrinsic drive. “I am internally very, very motivated. Intrinsically, extremely motivated and I’ve lived by the mantra that if you are the best, no one can stop you. I just believed if I get one chance, I should make the most of it. I never cribbed. I was always thinking like I got a chance but I missed it. I got a tournament here, but I probably could have done better in this match. And that kept me going,” he said.Karthik has been a constant presence in the IPL since its inception in 2008, playing 257 matches, making him the joint second-most capped player in IPL history alongside Rohit Sharma, and just behind MS Dhoni (264).As he navigates retirement, Karthik mentioned that family functions have kept him occupied and discussed the emotions he felt leading up to his final match. “I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. There’s lots happening in the house, there’s a couple of weddings and all so I’ve been pretty busy with that. It’s a tad bit emotional, a tad bit relief. In a way, I was mentally prepared for whenever it had to happen. But I was so much more prepared for 18th May.”“Once that part of the tournament was crossed, I was extremely elated and very, very happy and grateful. The 22nd came around pretty fast, but overall it was a mixed feeling of relief, emotion and the fact that it has all come to an end,” he added.

MS Dhoni bowls in nets ahead of CSK vs RCB clash | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: MS Dhoni’s presence on the cricket field never fails to captivate fans, regardless of the outcome of the match. The mere sight of Thala stepping out to bat, even if it’s for a single delivery, is enough to send the crowd into a frenzy of joy and excitement.Ahead of the highly anticipated and do-or-die clash between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, a video surfaced on CSK’s social media handle, showcasing MS Dhoni bowling during the practice session.The footage captured the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman bowling during the team’s net session. Is he going to enthrall fans with his bowling skills against RCB on Saturday?“When he bowls, just ADORABOWL!,” CSK posted on their social media handle. CSK batting coach Michael Hussey is hoping that Dhoni would continue with the team for a couple of years more, saying the former skipper was still batting well.The 42-year-old Dhoni surprised everyone by stepping aside as captain of the team just a day before the start of the 2024 season. Ruturaj Gaikwad was handed the reins of the side.“We are hoping he does keep going. He is still batting so well. He does prepare well – he gets into the camp very early and hits a lot of balls. He has been in good touch all season really,” Hussey said on ESPN’s Around the Wicket show.“I guess we just got to try to manage him from the body side of things. He had a knee surgery after the last season. So, he has been managing that from the initial stage of the tournament.“I hope he keeps going for another couple of years. But we will just have to wait and see. He is the only one who will make that call. And, he likes to sort of build the drama a little bit as well. So, I wouldn’t expect a decision anytime soon.”Dhoni led CSK to record five IPL titles.

‘It’s for MS Dhoni…’: Preity Zinta speechless as Punjab Kings home venue turns yellow for CSK legend | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago02 mins

NEW DELHI: There was a sea of yellow at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala as fans wore yellow jerseys to cheer for the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni during the Punjab Kings’ home game on Sunday.And when Shardul Thakur was cleaned up by Harshal Patel, the picturesque Dharamsala stadium seen buzzing with the chants of Dhoni, Dhoni as the talisman made his way to the middle. The crowd hoped for a thrilling display and powerful hits from the legendary cricketer, but their excitement was soon dashed when Dhoni was dismissed for a golden duck as Harshal’s slower yorker deceived Dhoni and knocked over his stumps.This marked the first time in IPL 2024 that Dhoni left the field without scoring.Chennai Super Kings secured a 28-run victory in the match. Following the game, Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta held a question-and-answer session on social media that had an indifferent query from a fan. A fan asked: “Your franchise should conduct some activities to lure home fans more to the stadium because yesterday at Dharmasala is full of ?? yellow. #advice #pzchat”.To this, Preity replied: “It’s for Dhoni and what can I say … everyone loves him.” Chennai Super Kings are third in the points tally with 6 wins in 11 matches. They will next face Gujarat Titans on May 10.

‘100-200 zyada lelo par next IPL…’: Fan’s special request for CSK legend MS Dhoni | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago02 mins

NEW DELHI: In what is rumoured to be his last Indian Premier League season, the MS Dhoni mania continues to grow along the length and breadth of the country.Whereever Dhoni has gone to play for Chennai Super Kings this season, his fans and supporters have gathered in huge numbers across stadiums to catch a glimpse of their cricketing idol. And to go with that, there have also been requests from fans, asking the 42-year-old to continue playing for another season.The requests have even spread to non-CSK matches, where Dhoni fans have showered love for him in different ways, using placards and slogans. One such unique request came from a fan during the Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders game. Playing their last game of the season, a LSG fan requested skipper KL Rahul to ask Dhoni to play another season. “Rahul bhai, Dhoni sir se kahdo, 100-200 zyada lelo par next IPL season khel lo,” the fan’s placard read. In the 11 matches played in the season thus far, Dhoni has delighted fans with quite a few incredible cameos at the death having hit the ball at a strike rate of over 224. Dhoni has only been dismissed a couple of times this IPL season. With 6 wins and 5 losses in 11 matches, the defending champions currently sit at the 3rd spot on the points table.

MS Dhoni: WATCH: Dharamsala crowd goes on ‘mute mode’ as CSK hero MS Dhoni falls for a golden duck | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago02 mins

NEW DELHI: When Shardul Thakur was bowled out by Harshal Patel, the entire crowd at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala erupted in anticipation of the arrival of MS Dhoni at the crease. The crowd expected thrilling performances and powerful sixes from the legendary cricketer, but their excitement was quickly dampened when Dhoni was dismissed for a golden duck. Harshal Patel’s slower yorker caught Dhoni off guard, uprooting the stumps. This was the first time Dhoni left the field without scoring in IPL 2024. WATCH: “Wicket was on drier side. I have too much respect for him to celebrate when I get him out (on Dhoni),” Harshal said after PBKS restricted CSK to 167. “One of the advantages of playing a day game is that the square is quite rough. So the ball starts reversing. In my first over it was reversing. It’s all about the feel of that delivery (slower one). More you bowl the better you get. Most batters don’t pick it. Have been practicing in the nets, and when it comes out it gives you great results,” he said.Dhoni was also run out on the final ball of the innings in CSK’s previous match against Punjab Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.In the 11 matches he has played so far, Dhoni has scored 110 runs at an average of 55. Dhoni, who handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the IPL 2024 season, guided CSK to five IPL titles.

‘He’s still in his 20s…’: Ruturaj Gaikwad praises ‘young’ CSK wicketkeeper MS Dhoni | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: It’s hard not be a fan of MS Dhoni, especially if you play in the same team and add to that, if you have succeeded the legend as captain of a team that he led to as many as five IPL titles.A day after Chennai Super Kings went down to Punjab Kings by 7 wickets, the host broadcaster shared a video of CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad at a talk show answering a question on MS Dhoni.IPL ORANGE CAP | IPL PURPLE CAP | IPL POINTS TABLE“How did the young wicket-keeper perform in your opinion?” asks the anchor.Gaikwad replies with a smile, “He did quite well, I feel he should be in the Indian team now, he’s doing really well, he played some good shots. The reason why I said young was actually the amount of practice he was doing pre-season, the amount of hard work he was putting in and I think he was playing the best I’ve ever seen since the last five or six years. So I really feel he’s in his prime twenties. He is playing that kind of cricket right now. Definitely he’s still quite young and many more years to come for him to play.” Dhoni has the third best strike rate this IPL season. He has scored 110 runs from 10 matches at a strike rate of 229.17 and an average of 110.00.In the match against Punjab on Wednesday, Dhoni was dismissed for the first time in this IPL edition when he was run out after scoring a 11-ball 14.CSK are at the fourth spot in the points table with five victories and five defeats, and play their next game against Punjab again on Sunday in Dharamsala.

MS Dhoni’s retirement talks intensified by Wasim Jaffer after CSK beat MI at IPL 2024: ‘Everyone expecting him to…’ | Cricket

Danijones7 months ago7 months ago04 mins

Completing a fairytale return to the iconic Wankhede Stadium, legendary cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni finished things off in style for Chennai Super Kings by taking Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya to the cleaners in the recently concluded encounter of the Indian Premier League season 2024. Giving CSK a late flourish in the final overs on Sunday, Dhoni smoked three sixes off Pandya to make sure the Yellow Brigade posted a match-winning total in the first El Clasico of the cash-rich league. Rohit Sharma , right, greets MS Dhoni at the end the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians in Mumbai(AP) After Dhoni finished off CSK’s innings in style by hitting three sixes off his first three balls at the Wankhede, former India opener Wasim Jaffer issued a cryptic post about the former CSK skipper. The former India skipper is in speculation about finishing his T20 career at the IPL 2024. Dhoni stepped down as CSK’s captain in the build-up to the new season. “MS has always done things that no one expected, especially when it comes to retiring from formats. Now everyone is expecting him to retire after this IPL..Baki aap khud samajhdar hai #MIvCSK #IPL2024,” Jaffer said in his post. Dhoni cameo proved to be the difference in Clasico Dhoni remained unbeaten on 20 off just 4 balls against Hardik’s Mumbai Indians in match No.29 of the IPL 2024. The 42-year-old batted at a strike rate of 500 as the former CSK skipper propelled the defending champions to 206-4 in 20 overs. Dhoni’s successor, Ruturaj Gaikwad, played a stroke-filled knock of 69 off 40 balls while power-hitter Shivam Dube remained unbeaten with Dhoni on 66 off 38 deliveries. Dhoni’s IPL legacy According to a report filed by news agency PTI, Dhoni can bid farewell to IPL cricket after the 2024 season. Dhoni picked Indian opener Gaikwad as his successor at CSK. Dhoni informed the CSK CEO about his decision to step down as captain just before the IPL 2024 skippers’ meet. “There is speculation that Dhoni will retire at the end of the season and therefore the franchise felt the need for a smooth transition in the stalwart’s presence as a player,” the news agency mentioned in one of its reports. Dhoni has won the joint-most IPL trophies as captain. Chennai icon Dhoni has guided CSK to five IPL title triumphs. The former CSK skipper has scored the most runs as a wicketkeeper-batter in the elite T20 tournament. The most-capped player in IPL’s history has played a record 11 finals in his iconic career.

Watch – ‘A trip down memory lane’: MS Dhoni with 2011 ODI and 2007 T20 World Cup trophies | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago02 mins

NEW DELHI: The legendary MS Dhoni was back in Mumbai for Chennai Super Kings’ IPL 2024 match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.IPL ORANGE CAP | IPL PURPLE CAP | IPL POINTS TABLEOn Saturday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had released three pictures of the former India captain visiting the board headquarters at the Wankhede and admiring the ODI World Cup trophy he had won for the country on April 2, 2011.On Sunday after the MI-CSK match, BCCI released a heart-warming video that shows Dhoni at the headquarters.Dhoni signed a photograph of himself hitting that iconic six in the final against Sri Lanka to win the ODI World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium. Dhoni also signed another photograph of himself playing a Test match and then was seen admiring the 2007 T20 World Cup trophy that had capitulated him to stardom.The heart-warming video shows Dhoni with a smile as he roamed about the room filled with nostalgia. In the match against Mumbai Indians, Dhoni scored 20 runs off four balls, and that proved to be the exact margin of victory for Chennai Super Kings.