IPL 2021 Playoffs: MS Dhoni’s CSK make remarkable turnaround – Ten months after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the first time failed to qualify for the IPL playoffs, MS Dhoni’s men made a roaring turnaround, sealing their progress with an easy six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday. Dhoni’s CSK didn’t tinker with the team nor did they drop their out of form captain like SRH.
They didn’t even shuffle the coaching team. Then how did they achieve such a remarkable turnaround? Ask MS Dhoni and he will give a short answer, ‘belief’ and ask CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan, he will say, ‘confidence’. But behind their success, there are reasons beyond just confidence and belief. InsideSport takes a look at 5 reasons why MS Dhoni’s CSK managed to turn the tide.
IPL 2021: 5 reasons why MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings managed turnaround after IPL 2020 debacle
IPL 2021 Playoffs: 5 reasons why MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings managed turnaround after IPL 2020 debacle
1. Retaining the core: Not everyone can settle in a team soon and that’s why Chennai Super Kings have maintained the same core of the team over 12 seasons even if some of them have faltered. In every auction, CSK have added players to plug the holes and the formula has succeeded remarkably. Despite MS Dhoni’s off-form, Dwayne Bravo and Imran Tahir’s growing age, CSK have gone against the tide and retained them and the result is there for everyone to see.
3. Backing players: Despite being off-form, CSK and skipper MS Dhoni have backed players. The prime example is Ruturaj Gaikwad. The young opener had a poor run in the first two matches of the season but instead of dropping him in favour of much more experienced Robin Uthappa, they continued to back Ruturaj Gaikwad and he repaid the faith scoring 407 runs in IPL 2021. He is still in the race for the IPL 2021 Orange Cap.
IPL 2021 Playoffs: 5 reasons why MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings managed turnaround after IPL 2020 debacle
3. Confidence: While form and technique are two things that can change, confidence in the players is what guides them. Despite CSK undergoing a terrible season, the management had confidence in their captain and the captain had confidence in the players. It has shown this time. Even when someone hasn’t performed, others have stepped up and CSK are now in the playoff.
IPL 2021 Playoffs: 4. Solid top 3: However, had it not been for their solid top-order including the opening pair of Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad, many of their shortcomings would have been exposed. The CSK openers have put together over 500 runs in IPL 2021 and that is one reason why they are in the Top 4. Gaikwad and Du Plessis have scored over 800 runs individually to give the team a strong start to build on. From their, Moeen Ali has scored quick runs to take the match away. That has also helped batters like Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja to play freely.
IPL 2021 Playoffs: However, MS Dhoni’s captaincy is also a reason. At 40, Dhoni may not be the same batsman but he is still the same captain if not better. Using Dwayne Bravo to wreck the opposition batting line-up or backing Ruturaj despite poor show, setting up a batsman like Virat Kohli, he has led from behind the stumps. Under his captaincy, CSK have flourished and he has taken the blame for a poor show. He has led the team to greater heights and has backed players to do well. He is one man CSK will always look up to.
IPL 2021: 5 reasons why MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings managed turnaround after IPL 2020 debacle
