Greatest players in the history of IPL #4 - MS Dhoni

The uncrowned King of Indian cricket and arguably one of the greatest captains to have ever graced the game, MS Dhoni is a legend of the game who is revered and loved across every corner. With a mind which is as cool as an ice and with an indomitable perseverance matched by none, MS Dhoni was the director of the most successful film in the history of an industry named IPL, the Chennai Super Kings.

No team has a better win-percentage than Chennai in this league and that is a testament to their unparalleled consistency. CSK was a part of the world’s most lucrative and entertaining cricket league for 8 seasons and they managed to reach the final four on every occasion. The Super Kings are back in the league after serving a 2-year suspension and their fans are more excited than ever before.

Right from the outset, they had some legendary names in their lineup like Mike Hussey, Matthew Hayden, Stephen Fleming, Makhaya Ntini etc., who helped them reach the final of the inaugural season. But Rajasthan Royals were a little too good for them and took the honors. They managed to reach the semifinals in the second season as well, where they lost out to RCB.

A star-studded unit which had everything in their arsenal needed to consolidate their status by winning an IPL Trophy. The calm and composed MS Dhoni played one of the finest knocks in IPL at Dharamshala against Punjab in a must-win game and took his side to the Semis. After defeating the defending champions Deccan Chargers in the semis, Mumbai fell prey to their brilliance and MSD laid hands on the glorious trophy for the first time.

2011 – A memorable year for Captain Cool

That was the year when MSD could do no wrong! After leading the Indian side to World Cup glory on home soil, he made the Chennai Super Kings the IPL Champions once again with his impeccable leadership. He also played some crucial knocks coming in the middle order and that season saw Ashwin turn from a rookie to a star.

MS Dhoni was one captain who would always find a way through adversities with his calmness and mastermind tactics. He was the first captain to have led an IPL franchise to two titles and that’s a glory which will remain with him forever. CSK managed to reach the final once again in 2012 but lost to the Kolkata Knight Riders in the final.

The Chennai Super Kings were a part of the League till 2015 and in those 8 seasons, they reached the finals 6 times. The other two occasions, they were in the top 4. You know there’s someone really special at the top of that team who is instigating some wonderful plans as this kind of success in a league like IPL where all teams are equally strong is unbelievable.

Perhaps his only failure as a captain came with the Rising Pune Supergiant when the side finished 7th in the league table. That was his final season a captain as Pune sacked him next year and gave the duties to Steve Smith. The only memorable moment for him with the Pune franchise was that final over against Axar Patel, where he clobbered 23 runs off the final over.

In 159 matches, Dhoni has amassed quite a lot of runs considering he always bats at number 5 and 6. With 3,561 runs at an astonishing average of 37.88, Dhoni has been remarkable with the willow as well. For many more years to come, the 36-year-old’s contribution as a captain in the IPL will be remembered fondly.

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