‘He is a master at creating combination’ – Ravi Shastri reflects on skipper MS Dhoni's IPL 2023 campaign with CSK

Former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri lavished massive praise on Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) legendary skipper MS Dhoni. With the business end of the ongoing IPL 2023 season having already begun, the yellow brigade are on the cusp of making their place in the play-offs. 

Reflecting on CSK’s campaign and their chances of making it to the play-offs, Shastri heaped praise on Dhoni, stating that the 41-year-old has the instinct to get the best combinations. With the play-offs on the horizon, he further added that the side will not look to chop and change unless they are to deal with an injury.

"He's (MS Dhoni) a master at creating combination. It's intuitive, it's understanding. Probably persisting with a guy who might not be good in 2022, but having the foresight to believe that he'll be very good in 2023, giving him the confidence in 2022 to go through the grind. Thinking ahead. He would have done that with few players. I won't be surprised. I am not in the mix there. I won't know," Ravi Shastri said on ESPNcricinfo.

"But definitely he thinks in that fashion. When you look at this side now, who looks almost certain to make it to the playoffs and looks extremely dangerous when it comes to the playoffs, two games in Chennai, it's a team that can go the distance. Because it's already settled. If there is any tinkering, it will be because of injury. Otherwise, they've got it right,” he added.

CSK gunning for record fifth title

Speaking about their campaign thus far, the Men in Yellow are placed second on the IPL Points Table, courtesy of 13 points from six victories (one yielding no-result). With three group fixtures still to be played in their campaign, CSK will aim to maintain their fine run and officially cement their berth in the coming games. 

With speculations surrounding Dhoni’s retirement following the conclusion of the 16^th edition up in the air, the side will be motivated to add a fifth title to hand the skipper a fitting send-off. CSK lock horns with Delhi at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday, May 10.