Mumbai: On the occasion of MS Dhoni’s 200th match for Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming had special words for the skipper. Calling him ‘heartbeat’ of the franchise, Fleming said Dhoni’s achievement is a testament to his commitment to the franchise.
Dhoni has been leading Chennai Super Kings since the inaugural edition of IPL in 2008. It was his dedication and efforts from him to the game, to have played for such a long time. He also missed very few games due to his injury but needless to say his fitness levels have been outstanding over the years and can never be matched.
It was a double celebration for the franchise as CSK managed to register their first maiden win on IPL 2021 against Punjab Kings and
Skipper MS Dhoni became the first player to complete 200 matches for CSK.
“He has been absolutely the heartbeat of CSK, there’s no doubt about it. Whether it’s performances, guidance or leadership. You run out of things to say about him,” Fleming at the post-match ceremony after CSK celebrated Dhoni’s milestone with its maiden win in IPL 2021.
“His longevity also has to be mentioned and appreciated… to play 200 games and still have a desire to do well and perform well is a testament to his attitude towards the game and the franchise. I think the franchise has grown and MS has grown with it, so it’s a very good relationship and great fun.” he added.
The former New Zealand captain was impressed by the team’s effort to bounce back after the defeat in their IPL 2021 opener. He also heaped praise on Man of the Match Deepak Chahar for his knock.
“Really impressed with the way he bounced back after the first game. Without a doubt, when Deepak gets a little bit of swing and a little bit of movement, he is one of the finest around. His ability to swing the ball is one. But his control and skill set is also very high. The key is keeping him simple in his plans and just operating in and around the stumps. He is very effective when the ball swings. A great bounce back from a below-par performance in the first game.”
After a disappointing season last year, Chennai Super Kings will be looking to build on their fabulous start this year. CSK have so far managed one win and one loss in their first two games of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League.
