IPL 2023: Sunil Gavaskar reveals what makes MS Dhoni stand out from the rest

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Mahendra Singh Dhoni, saying the wicketkeeper-batter can get a team together despite a gap.

Chennai Super Kings were suspended for two IPL seasons in the aftermath of the 2013 betting scandal. After missing the 2016 and 2017 tournaments, CSK bounced back and won the 2018 IPL under the leadership of Dhoni.

Gavaskar lauded Dhoni’s leadership, saying: “I think when CSK returned and won the IPL trophy, it was absolutely amazing because the team had not been together for two years and they had moved out with different franchises and suddenly they come back again.

“That tells you leadership. That tells you how the man could get a team together again after that gap. Sometimes you know, first year, second year there is a team spirit that happens but to get all of them together after the gap is remarkable,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports Network.

Gavaskar further said that Dhoni’s ability to rise under pressure makes him stand out from the others.

“I think therefore that particular year and some of the shots that he played, I remember one game where the teams needed 20 odds runs in the final over and he just smashed it around from everywhere from outside the off stump, he was hitting it over long on for sixes!

“We were used to seeing that from Dhoni but even those little touches of his where he makes a fielder, a player feel 7 feet tall, are the touches that make him stand out from the other,” said Gavaskar.

Chennai Super Kings will begin their campaign against the defending champions Gujarat Titans on March 31.