The Chennai Super Kings haven’t had the season they wished for. They are currently in the last position with only 3 wins from 12 matches. The men in yellow won the match against KKR after 23 days. In the Super Kings’ victory, the youngsters played a very important role.
Although Ayush Mhatre couldn’t continue his great form and got out for a duck, debutant Urvil Patel certainly made an impression. He scored 31 from just 11 balls to give CSK a flying start in the powerplay. Not only that, South African sensation Dewald Brevis also scored his first half-century of the season and helped his team win the match comfortably in the end.
CSK legend and current batting coach Michael Hussey was full of praise for the youngsters. He hailed them for their positive contributions and fearless intent. The Aussie batter further added that the young players allowed them to look towards the future. He admitted that the inclusion of the young players in the team had invigorated everyone.
“They are highly motivated to do well. They have created energy around the group, because when you are in this position, sometimes the energy of the players can just go downhill very quickly. But this injection of some youth has really invigorated everyone.”
Michael Hussey on CSK’s future generation
Speaking about the match itself, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and elected to bat first. Thanks to his innings and Andre Russell’s final flourish, they posted a fighting total of 180. CSK were having a bad day with the bat, as at one point they were 60 for 5. However, Dewald Brevis’ fifty, along with the finishing touches from Shivam Dube and MS Dhoni, helped the Super Kings claim victory against KKR.
MS Dhoni shares a cryptic message on his future in IPL after CSK’s win against KKR
Following his team’s victory over the reigning champions, Dhoni gave a post-match interview. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman has hinted that the end of his IPL career may be near.
The 43-year-old uncapped player said that he hadn’t decided on his future yet. He would do so only after training for 6–8 months to see if he could still handle the rigors of the league. Dhoni admitted that he was in the final phase of his career and was overwhelmed by the love and affection he received from the fans.
“There is no escaping the fact that I am in the last phase of my career. After this IPL gets over, I have to work hard for another 6-8 months to see if my body can take this pressure. Nothing to decide now, but the love and affection I have seen is excellent.”
MS Dhoni on his future
Notably, Dhoni underwent knee surgery last year and has managed his game time accordingly since then. Unfortunately, the Super Kings became the first team to be eliminated from the competition. Fans of the five-time IPL champions will be hoping for a positive change next year. It remains to be seen whether Dhoni will be a part of the team or not.