We are just two days away from the start of the IPL, the highly anticipated and lucrative cricket spectacle. The 2024 campaign opens with a high-voltage encounter between the defending champions, Chennai Super Kings, and Royal Challengers Bangalore, playing out at the MA Chidambaram Stadium this Friday, March 22.
The much-awaited and entertaining cash-rich cricket league, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is just two days away. IPL 2024 is set to begin with a blockbuster opening clash between defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a South Indian derby at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday, March 22.
Speaking before the season opener, CSK batting coach Michael Hussey shared that MS Dhoni has been training hard and is currently in excellent batting form. Hussey observed that Dhoni's knee appears healthy and remarked that he is actually getting better as time goes on, comparing the captain to Benjamin Button while attending a local T20 college match in Chennai.
Hussey also pointed out that the former Indian captain isn't as agile as he once was, meaning that running quickly between the wickets will be a challenge. However, he noted that Dhoni is still capable of striking the ball with incredible purity, especially during the death overs when sprinting is less frequent. The 48-year-old Australian coach expressed how great it is to see Dhoni playing at this level.
CSK head coach Stephen Fleming recently mentioned that Dhoni is often the first one at pre-season training, where he mentors the younger Indian athletes. Fleming explained that because of the players' ages and their heavy schedules, the pre-season period has been lengthened. Consequently, Dhoni has taken on a leadership role during these early sessions, providing the necessary volume of work that naturally draws the younger players to him.