'Players go through walls for MS Dhoni' - Aakash Chopra talks about CSK's great culture over the years

Former Indian opener turned cricket commentator Aakash Chopra believes that the Chennai Super Kings’s approach based on experience has contributed the most to the side’s success. The former cricketer believes that CSK has successfully managed to create an atmosphere wherein the players will run through walls for M.S.Dhoni.

CSK followed their usual mantra at the auction and tried bringing back most of their players. They were successful in buying back Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Bravo and broke their bank to bring back their main weapon in the powerplay overs, Deepak Chahar for a whopping sum of INR 14 Crores, making him the side’s most expensive buy in the auction. Talking about CSK’s team atmosphere and their approach in the auctions Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“Many people say that CSK is Dad’s Army or Grand Dad’s Army, but they are not. CSK follows a philosophy. The philosophy is that they always try to bring their players back. CSK is a franchise where I have never heard a player saying that they did not like playing. Players go through walls for MS Dhoni and the franchise. They tried to go for all their players in the auction.”

Chopra, however, pointed out that death bowling might be a concern for the defending champions. CSK did try hard to bring back Josh Hazlewood but they lost him to RCB after a heated bidding duel as the Bangalore franchise bought him for INR 7.75 Crores. Speaking about this, the former cricketer said:

“If you look through a lens, you may find that death bowling may be a concern. They didn’t get Josh Hazlewood; he used to bowl at the death. Bravo is not the same as before. Chahar and Milne are your new-ball bowlers. That’s the only potential weakness I can see. But it won’t worry MS Dhoni at all. He’s not going to lose his sleep over this.”

Aakash Chopra points great opportunity for Chahar to cement his status as an all-rounder

Deepak Chahar has been in tremendous form with the bat for the Indian team in recent times. Most notably when led India to victory in a low-scoring thriller against Sri Lanka last year and almost helped India cross the line against the West Indies. Talking about how he can use the IPL 2022 to further his case as an all-rounder for the Indian team, Chopra said:

“Good opportunity for Chahar to be an all-rounder. It’s a phenomenal opportunity. Prasanth Solanki has a great opportunity because he can blossom under Dhoni. Also, a good opportunity for Ruturaj Gaikwad to go to the next level; he is already there, but can go even higher. Even Dube for that matter was being wasted at RCB and RR. He can fulfill his potential here.”