Watch: MS Dhoni sets the field; skipper Ravindra Jadeja looks on helplessly
Old habits die hard and with MS Dhoni, that seems to have led to an instinctive call to set the field on Saturday (March 26) night’s IPL 2022 opening game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend was seen setting the field in his team’s campaign opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai after the first timeout in KKR’s run-chase, only few days after having resigned from captaincy duties officially.
The 40-year-old, who has been an IPL captain in all but one previous season of the league and has had a legacy-defining connection with CSK over the years, resumed the captaincy role out of instinct even as it was the start of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s tenure at the helm.
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MS Dhoni led CSK to four titles in 2010, 2011, 2018 and 2021 seasons of IPL.
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The great MS Dhoni was seen shifting and setting the field with hand gestures after the end of the first timeout in KKR’s run-chase.
This, after a brief chat with CSK head coach Stephen Fleming, who, as shown live by host broadcaster Star Sports, communicated some plans with the former skipper and not the newly appointed Jadeja.
— Peep (@Peep00470121) March 26, 2022
Immediately after the end of the strategic timeout, Dhoni was seen following a certain suggestion from Fleming and setting the field accordingly as experienced pacer Dwayne Bravo ran in for the first start of the ninth over.
MS Dhoni decided to resign from captaincy duties after a mighty successful tenure with CSK in the days leading into the IPL 2022 opener, identifying Jadeja as the team’s new skipper for life after the legendary figure.
CSK lifted the coveted IPL trophy last year in UAE, their fourth in the league’s history under Dhoni’s world-renowned captaincy.
Dhoni’s tenure saw CSK make the playoffs in all but one edition of the IPL. In total, he captained the franchise in 203 T20s, including two titles in the now-disbanded Champions League T20.