Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend MS Dhoni has been diligently preparing for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, showcasing his exceptional batting skills in a recent practice session. At the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Dhoni faced the CSK bowlers with unwavering determination.
In a widely shared video, Dhoni effortlessly dispatched boundaries, including his signature helicopter shot off Deepak Chahar’s delivery. Chahar’s overpitched ball was met with Dhoni’s precise footwork and timing, sending the ball soaring over the midwicket boundary.
CSK batting coach Michael Hussey has heaped praise on Dhoni’s preparation, comparing him to the ageless Benjamin Button. “He’s preparing really well. His knee seems good at this stage. And he’s batting extremely well at the moment. I must admit he’s like Benjamin Button! He keeps getting better,” Hussey remarked.
However, Hussey acknowledged that Dhoni’s age may affect his running between the wickets. “He’s not as young as he used to be. So, the scampering between the wickets is going to be more difficult for him. But at the back end of the innings, where there’s not as much sprinting, he can still hit the ball very cleanly,” Hussey added.
Despite facing knee issues throughout the previous season, Dhoni led CSK to their fifth IPL title. After the IPL 2023 final, he underwent successful knee surgery.
The CSK squad for IPL 2024 includes:
* MS Dhoni (c)
* Moeen Ali
* Deepak Chahar
* Tushar Deshpande
* Shivam Dube
* Ruturaj Gaikwad
* Rajvardhan Hangargekar
* Ravindra Jadeja
* Ajay Mandal
* Mukesh Choudhary
* Ajinkya Rahane
* Shaik Rasheed
* Mitchell Santner
* Simarjeet Singh
* Nishant Sindhu
* Prashant Solanki
* Maheesh Theekshana
* Rachin Ravindra
* Shardul Thakur
* Daryl Mitchell
* Sameer Rizvi
* Mustafizur Rahman
* Avanish Rao Aravelly
