MS Dhoni left the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai for the IPL 2023 season with a win over the defending champion Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 1 earlier this week. This put the Gujarat Titans in the final for the 10th time in their history. The winner of IPL 2023 Qualifier 2 between the Mumbai Indians and GT will play the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Friday. But before leaving Chepauk, Dhoni, who has been a crowd favorite all over India during the IPL 2023, did something big on Tuesday.
After Tuesday’s win over GT, CSK posted a video of MS Dhoni signing autographs for Chepauk ground workers. The video quickly spread through social media.
After the game, Dhoni met Matheesha Pathirana’s family at the team hotel in Chennai. Pathirana is a 20-year-old pacer who plays for CSK. The 20-year-old’s bowling action is very close to that of Mumbai Indians and Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga. He has lived up to Dhoni’s faith by taking 17 wickets in 11 matches so far. After winning Qualifier 1 against the Gujarat Titans earlier this week, Dhoni met Pathirana’s family in Chennai.
“Now that Thala said that, we know that Malli is in good hands. “Don’t worry about Matheesha, he’s always with me,” Pathirana’s sister Vishuka wrote on Instagram with pictures of Dhoni and their family.
Dhoni hasn’t said much about whether or not he will be back in the IPL next season. The CSK captain said he would make a decision about that around December, which is when the IPL 2023 sale will be held.
At the post-game show, Harsha Bhogle asked Dhoni the “big” question, and Dhoni left the door open for a return to CSK next season. “I don’t know, and I have 8 to 9 months to think about it. I have ample time to decide. The sale will happen in December. I’m always going to come to CSK. ” I haven’t been home since January and have been practicing since March, so we’ll see,” Dhoni said Tuesday night after his team beat GT.
The captain of CSK said that this was not “just another” final because there are now 10 teams instead of 8. CSK came in ninth place in the IPL 2022, so for the four-time winners to make the final again is a big change.
“It’s not eight teams anymore. With ten teams, it’s even harder. Two months of hard work Our guys showed a lot of heart. Everyone has made a difference. Yes, the middle order hasn’t had many chances, but they’ve helped get us to the final,” Dhoni said.
