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Showing posts with label MS Dhoni. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MS Dhoni. Show all posts
Inside CSK and GT camps before the IPL final
What makes the tournament special, yet over the top
After Gujarat Titans’ stunning win against a much-fancied Mumbai Indians, planning has been taken on a whole new level at CSK. While the IPL final, in all probability, could be MS Dhoni’s last IPL match, the captain wants to focus on the process – “I don’t want players to be distracted, they can be distracted eight months later when I take the decision. Right now, if you ask me, I want them to focus on the process that has got us here.”
Asked what this process was, MSD said, “that is not for me to tell, if you can guess, guess, otherwise you will publish it and GT will know all about it, so I’d rather keep quiet.”
At the GT camp, they were anything but quiet. Rahul Tewatia was all charged up, thumping his chest as he often does after miraculous death-over chases. He could be seen urging Shubman Gill to do the same. Gill was seen smiling to no one and everyone in particular. His mates were still lining up to kiss him. It had been learnt that die-hard GT fans had been queuing outside the stadium to kiss him.
Gill, nonchalant as ever, echoed Dhoni’s sentiment when he said, “I don’t want to be distracted. I just want to focus on my process that has got me here.”
GT skipper Hardik Pandya was more forthcoming when he said, “We all know what Shubman can do, you know and we have come to expect this of him. I know he says the process is important but even before the process we have to look at if everyone is following the process and why is he only showing such results.” At this point, coach Ashish Nehra walked past Pandya, mumbling something inaudible to him.
As Pandya continued to ramble, Nehra returned and said something within earshot, “Talk to him later, or don’t talk to him, let’s discuss how Mumbai made so many runs, they should have lost by more than 100 runs, that Shami over nearly cost us.” As for Shami, he could be seen laughing, imitating the sitter that went through his hands.
Mentor Gary Kirsten looked quite unaffected by all this. Almost mirroring this was CSK coach, Stephen Fleming. While Ruturaj Gaikwad, who some are pipping as Dhoni’s successor, came forward to say a few words, “We don’t need to look at GT. We need to look at ourselves. Our strengths. Everywhere there are photos of Gill’s six-pack. Why are there no photos of my six-pack? Few know I have a six-pack. At CSK, it is not our style to be demonstrative. More so after Bravo retired. But everyone here knows I have a six-pack. I even mentioned it in a post-match IPL interview.”
At this point, everyone cracked up, but what stunned everyone was a power-point presentation that did a comparison of Gill and Gaikwad’s six-packs. While everyone continued to laugh, Gaikwad remained poker-faced.
At GT, preps for their second IPL final in a row were on in earnest. Everyone had been given copies of Oscar Wilde’s 'The importance of being earnest'. It was Nehra’s idea – “I have not read the book, and you don’t have to also, what is important is the title. And we are after the title. Once we have the title, you can read the book. Or Not.” He continued to talk briskly in Hindi, saying the focus on the title was all that matters.
Pandya echoed Nehra’s sentiment, “What Ashu pa is saying is correct, if I had been reading books then I would’ve been some modest cricket writer and not this flashy captain of an IPL winning team. We have to wear our attitude on our sleeve, you must have heard that saying. I believe, you have to wear it on both sleeves.”
In the CSK war-room, there was a secret visitor. It was GT bowler, Mohit Sharma. Sharma was ex-CSK and was seen animatedly talking to Dhoni after the first Eliminator. He had popped in to thank Dhoni, talking straight as he did after his 5 for 10 against MI. He was asking Dhoni what he thought of his speech. When Dhoni said he didn’t watch speeches, he only made them, Sharma repeated it verbatim.
After Sharma left, Pandya appeared. He too wanted to spend time with his ‘elder brother’, Dhoni. He was quite emotional and MS had to calm him down. Pandya was seen ruffling Dhoni’s hair.
Gradually, other GT members entered to speak with Dhoni and his CSK team-mates. The broadcasting crew appeared and started filming this. Ex-CSK player and broadcaster, Mathew Hayden, piped in, “It’s only in the IPL that you will see something like this. No doubt this is the greatest league in the world.”
Harbhajan Singh, by his side, agreed, “I have to agree with you, even you and I are now friends all thanks to the IPL.” Sunil Gavaskar could be seen taking out shirts from a bag, having them autographed by Dhoni. When reminded that he already had his shirt autographed by MS on Live TV, he quipped, “In India, the moment you have something precious, your family, friends and neighbours want it.”
Ashish Nehra hovered past mumbling to himself.
(However plausible this may sound, this is a work of fiction)
First published on cricket.com
Dhoni after CSK.
A triple-role with Delhi Capitals? Or a coaching stint at 'Ranchi Sunrisers'?
Every season, the one question that does the rounds is: is this his last season? Last year, MS Dhoni gave every indication that he wanted to play at his CSK home ground, Chepauk, and then take a call on his IPL career.
Dhoni’s call has been answered by every stadium in India. Every stadium has been a sea of yellow. A CSK fortress. No matter where, it's been Mahi’s home ground. The high point of every CSK match has been when MSD's come out to bat. Ad breaks ceased. Both Star and Jio have been largely aligned on this.
It may have been for just a few deliveries, towards the end of every CSK innings but MSD has come out swinging each time – striking at nearly 200, Dhoni’s daredevilry with the bat has left all gasping for more. After 12 matches, even though MSD has faced a mere 50 deliveries, he has scored 98 runs, with 10 sixes. Dhoni out in the middle has been an event.
It hasn't been uncommon for even those not watching the match, to turn it on. It hasn't been uncommon for those who were turned on elsewhere, to turn to the match. It's been the Dhoni factor. Mobiles switched on, TVs tuned into, viewership peaking. Everyone have sensed, this season is all about Dhoni’s withdrawal.
The eternal question has been, what will CSK be after Dhoni stops playing? Everyone expected that he would remain with the franchise in some capacity, most probably as a mentor, much like Tendulkar is with Mumbai Indians.
Apparently it could be quite to the contrary. It has been learnt that Dhoni hopes to take on something more challenging – a leadership role at a hopeless franchise, either Delhi Capitals or Sunrisers Hyderabad. Both teams are languishing at the bottom, with a handful of games remaining. Dhoni wishes to see, by the end of the season, which of the two teams is more useless.
In their two matches against each other, DC and SRH have won one match a piece. The margin of defeat has been similar, 7 and 9 runs. Both teams chasing had 4 wickets in the bank, played their overs out, and tested the patience of their handful of fans.
Asked if this is true, Dhoni remained non-committal but did say, “Even useless teams have some use. I remember when I was at the Pune franchise (Rising Pune Supergiants), I did feel they had some use – when I returned to CSK, it was with new vigour. I’m not saying I will be taking on a leadership role with either of the teams but I’m not ruling it out either. One must keep looking at fresh challenges.
"Sometimes I feel that we at CSK, with Flem as coach and me there too, are a well-oiled machine. We need to challenge ourselves. That’s why, if you remember, we made Jadeja the captain in between. The rest, y’kno, everyone saw. Some will remember the issues with Raina too, what seemed like a non-issue but really, it’s how you decide to look at matters and take them in your own hands”
The Delhi management said they’d love to have Dhoni in any role: “Ideally we’d like to have him captain, coach and mentor our team as we are missing persons in all three roles. It has been a painful experience for us and we are looking to rename the franchise again. We also are looking at Dhoni to suggest a new name or if he’s fine with us using his name, something like Dhoni’s Delhi – we feel it has a ring to it but finally it is what Dhoni is comfortable with. We are also comfortable to change our jersey to yellow as that is something he is used to. It is still early days and I do not want to make any comments as such so please don’t quote me”
The Hyderabad franchise claimed ever since things had been going south for them, Dhoni was on their mind. “Dhoni’s association with the south is well documented. He is revered in Chennai. Also, the shift from yellow to orange (SRH’s colours) will be quite seamless. I know, DC is keen to have him on board but I do feel, MSD and Hyderabad are a natural fit. I have heard that Delhi is wooing him with a change in name, we will pull out all stops too. We are even prepared to call ourselves Ranchi Sunrisers to make him feel at home”.
When contacted regarding the comments of the DC and SRH management, Dhoni kept it brief, “Nothing to add”.
Just then, Dhoni’s phone rang with the tune 'Main pal do pal ka shayar hu.’
(However plausible this may sound, this is a work of fiction)
First published at cricket.com
How Dhoni stopped Jadeja from sleepwalking through the IPL
It was down to an open-door policy
On Labour Day, CSK delivered. It was a normal delivery. Everything seemed normal. MS Dhoni had appointed MS Dhoni in-charge of the mothership. He had relieved Ravindra Jadeja of what seemed like a spate of morning sickness evils on match days.
Jadeja, once the safest hands, and often entrusted with babysitting players’ children, was now dropping not just catches but sitters. Often off fellow left-arm spinner, Mitchell Santner’s bowling. Santner, another reliable catcher and babysitter, dropped a few off Jadeja’s bowling.
Dhoni had observed how captaincy was messing with Jadeja’s batting and bowling. That he had factored in. But this dip in fielding? Yet Dhoni did not intervene. He wanted Jadeja to take the call. Little did he anticipate, that his teammate was literally sleepwalking through the turbulent last few weeks.
***
Now it is well documented that the door to MS’ room is always open to his teammates, no matter what the time.
At a very odd hour, sometime in the middle of the night, Jadeja emerged from his bed. It’s another thing, he was still sleeping. He stood up and did his routine stretching exercises. After this, he emerged from his bedroom, arms stretched forward and parallel to each other. Oblivious, he knocked at MS’ door. Who opened, not surprised to see Jadeja. It took him an instant to realise Jadeja was sleepwalking.
He let him be, knowing fully well, from experience, how many players had sleepwalked through the IPL, and it was never prudent to wake them up. He would often say in CSK meetings, “There will be a time when you may feel you are on autopilot, just going through the motions, match after match, it will be like sleepwalking but it’s not for me to wake you up. As you know, waking a sleepwalker can be dangerous.” It was based on this thinking that the CSK doctrine of not hurriedly changing players was based; and why they stuck with their core in the recent mega auction.
Jadeja sat at the writing table. Removed a sheet from the hotel writing pad, and started to scribble something. It was evident, even in his sleep, he was struggling. He wrote, “Dear Mahi, thank you for the opp…” But at that, he rolled the paper into a ball and left the room.
Over the next few days, Jadeja continued to emerge, in the middle of the night, often on match day. MS would leave the door slightly ajar with the table lamp on. Each time, Jadeja would scribble a few words but always roll the paper into a ball.
MS could gauge Jadeja’s pain. He saw it on the field. And now here, in his sleepwalking and rolled up paper balls. One day, he decided to write a note alongside the pad. If Jadeja read it, well and good. There were just a few words, “Jaddu, at least you tried”
That night, Jadeja emerged again. Sat at the writing table. MS pretended to sleep. Jadeja did not write anything that day. Instead, he walked away with MS’ words.
At breakfast when MS met Jadeja, he could tell a weight had been lifted off him. The smile was back on his face. Yet, he wanted to be sure. He hurled an apple, well wide of Jadeja. While Jadeja was sitting, immersed in his breakfast, he sprang from his chair and caught the apple single-handed.
MS applauded Jadeja’s efforts with a, “Jaddu, good catch. I’m happy to say, Jaddu the fielder is back. And if that’s the case, Jaddu the batsman and Jaddu the bowler cannot be far behind. Of course, it remains to be seen if this catching is only with the red ball which is what the apple is or with the white ball too…otherwise we will have to practice with white apples.”
Everybody laughed. Jadeja bowed with élan. There was a sense of what was happening, but nobody said a word. MS joined Jadeja at his breakfast table. They didn’t say a word about the note. They didn’t have to. Years of trust and love between the two had made their communication almost instinctive.
During the day, a brief press release stated MS Dhoni’s return to captaincy. The following day, CSK’s openers added 182 off 17.5 overs. Ruturaj Gaikwad made only his second fifty of the IPL, his highest score of 99. In only his second match of the season, Devon Conway made 83*. MS Dhoni promoted himself to three, Jadeja came in at four.
CSK went on to beat SRH by 13 runs. Jadeja bowled 3 overs for 15 runs. Everyone attributed everything good that happened that night to MS Dhoni. Much later that night, Jadeja emerged from his bed and walked to MS’ room. He went straight to the table and scribbled a few words. He did not roll the paper into a ball.
The note said, “Thanx Mahi bhai. xxx Jaddu”
(However plausible this may sound, this is a work of fiction)
First published here
Two teams with nothing to lose, decide to lose it in style
To paraphrase Ravi Shastri, “It’s just what the defeats ordered”
Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) both agreed to skip another practise session on the eve of their match. Both teams also agreed not to use the phrase, ‘playing for pride’. Instead, they are determined to ‘enjoy the ride’.
Seated in the common room to lighten the heavy atmosphere, here’s what transpired:
MI coach, Mahela Jayawardene cut to the chase, “let’s not be delusional anymore. We are against CSK who if I know something always know exactly what they are about. So my guess is they know they are bad. They also know we are worse. We have to somehow up our performance to bad and theirs to worse.”
Mentor Sachin Tendulkar nods, “can I say something, I was just speaking to my driver. No, not the same guy in the Mutual Fund ad. Anyway, he asked me, what has gone wrong with Mumbai Indians, do they not believe in themselves anymore. I said, they believe in their future selves. That’s when his eyes popped like my driver in the MF ad. I explained to him, how MI is like a sci-fi film, set in the future, and to win next year’s IPL, they had to lose this one. Like how CSK won last year’s so they could lose this one. That’s when we both tightened our seat-belts”
Zaks claps his hands and snaps, “I’d like to keep it short, but you guys will have to vary your lengths”
Dewald Brevis chips in, “I have a cousin who’s 9-10 years old, back home they call him AB Baby square - seeing as you’re planning for the future, should he turn up?”
Right then Jofra Archer appears on the screen with an obscure message - “on the rocks is not rock bottom. Musk can make his pitch. But you can still tweet. Or maybe he can’t and you can still tweet. You can be last but you can still tweet. Err win. Thanks for believing in my future self. I believe in your past, baby”
Finally, skipper, Rohit Sharma speaks, “I’m going for a net. Who wants to join can stay and talk…can come”
Rohit’s deputy, Jasprit Bumrah joins him.
The two leave the room. For some reason, both players are wearing a mosquito net. Kieron Pollard explains they’re going for a fantasy cricket shoot, where they will have to say the words, “Yeh mein kar leta hoon”. Pollard’s Hindi accent rips into the sombre atmosphere in the room.
Meanwhile, Tim David (dropped after 2 matches) is sitting in a far corner. In another far corner is Daniel Sams with an economy rate of 12.64.
Ishan Kishan reluctantly raises his hand asking if he can speak – I think we need to put a price on our wicket.
For some reason, everyone finds this funny. Which is when Tendulkar pipes up, “Guys, a lot of people on social media have been comparing a third umpire’s voice with mine. I can either accept that and laugh or be upset. I choose to accept it. Ishan, you must accept that you went for this price…”
Arjun Tendulkar interrupts, “Dad, why must you play everybody’s dad all the time”.
Sachin Tendulkar: I’m Jagat Papa
DJ Bravo knocks at the door – Guys, I’m organising a musical net where we can all dance in the nets for a while. Do join us.
***
At the nets, Jadeja is doing his vigorous sword dance. Nobody else is present except Mitchell Santner who is sitting on a bench.
The MI team is quite upset calling it an ambush. Just then Dhoni walks out with a production crew. Uthappa and Gaikwad follow.
All these ads by the bottom-ranked two teams, the irony is not lost on the players.
After the shoot is wrapped, the two teams assemble for a team-building exercise. The exercise lasts two minutes, with silence maintained throughout.
A ball crashes through to break the silence. It’s none other than Surya Kumar Yadav’s doing. After the camera crew had packed up, SKY had decided to go for a net. He had convinced Santner to get off the bench and bowl to him. Santner who had played in 7 games across 3 IPLs was initially surprised someone wanted him to bowl, albeit in a net.
When everyone stepped out, they also spotted Shivam Dube who was turning on the heat. Riley Meredith, yet to get a game for MI yet, was spotted turning his arm over.
Rohit and MS smiled at each other, posing and embracing, both now being interviewed, speaking about how the IPL brought teams together. Rohit quipped, “especially losing teams”
Dhoni waxed eloquently, “Just when you think all is lost, the turnaround starts. Of course, as you know, I have changed my game. Not just in the ad but otherwise also…from a captain, now I’m a Marg Darshak.”
Jadeja joins, “Mahi Bhai has shown me a lotta margs, and it is a learning process for me…I know many times I look clueless but that is because I am clueless. Captaining a side is tough and will tell on performance…all this while everyone was after Virat but look at Rohit and me now…hope this is off the record (looking straight into the camera)
Both MS and Rohit crack up, and Jadeja joins in somewhat involuntarily, not quite knowing what the joke is.
In the background, Dube and SKY are pounding the bowlers.
Rohit: This SKY is too serious…pata nahi kai ko net karta (don’t know why he’s getting a net)
Dhoni: Dube too, very serious. Glad that I didn’t…I mean Jadeja didn’t give him bowling…otherwise he would be netting all day
Rayudu appears, “Guys, the biryani is ready”
Shane Bond walks past with a weak smile, followed by Stephen Fleming, bobbing his eyes, as if he’s just woken up.
Fleming: Certainly, we are up to it, what will be a great contest between two great sides.
Interviewer: Do you think CSK and MI have left it too late?
Fleming: No, I don’t think so
Interviewer: What will you be playing for
Fleming: Daresay, think we’ve been undercooked, hopefully we’re warmed up now.
Interviewer: Is this a dig at Virat Kohli who Shastri called overcooked
Fleming refutes with a deadpan No and moves on.
Interviewer (to Rohit): Both you and Virat have scored less than 120 runs averaging only 19, what do have to say about that
Rohit: Virat is averaging nearly 20…don’t diffuse facts…
Sanjay Bangar appears out of nowhere (diplomatic as ever): I think Rohit and Virat are just one innings away from a big score. By the time Bangar finished his sentence, everyone has walked off, including the interviewer.
In the far distance, batters were queueing up for a net. Chris Jordan had ball in hand.
The Mumbai Indians issued a statement saying that Kieron Pollard retired from international cricket to focus on the make-or-break match vs CSK.
(However plausible this may sound, this is a work of fiction)
First published here
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