'Tears were coming out of his eyes' - Michael Hussey recalls seeing MS Dhoni get emotional on CSK's comeback in 2018

It won’t be wrong to state that MS Dhoni is synonymous with Chennai Super Kings as the talismanic wicketkeeper-batter has been associated with the franchise since the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. Dhoni has led the Yellow Army to perfection and took them to four titles. Moreover, except for the 2020 season, CSK have qualified for the playoffs in every season they have participated.

Although Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket in 2020, he continues to serve CSK in the IPL. He even took over the captaincy from Ravindra Jadeja midway through the ongoing 2022 season as the all-rounder was facing the heat of the added responsibility. Notably, besides CSK, Dhoni served one more franchise in the IPL – Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016 and 2017.

During this period, CSK were serving a two-year ban alongside Rajasthan Royals amid their alleged involvement in the infamous spot-fixing scandal. Nonetheless, 2018 marked CSK’s comeback in the IPL and MS Dhoni was ecstatic to lead the team once again. CSK batting coach Michael Hussey has revealed that the talismanic cricketer delivered an arousing speech at the start of the 2018 edition and said the former Indian captain had tears in his eyes.

MS Dhoni played unbelievably well throughout the 2018 season: Michael Hussey

“I think there’s not one particular memory but we see these championship-winning photos on the wall… I think probably the 2018 season. We were out of the competition for two years. We came back and I remember MS giving a speech right at the start of the season,” Hussey told former Australian opener Matthew Hayden in a ‘Super Reunion’ video shared by CSK.

“He actually started tearing; tears were coming out of his eyes and I remember thinking, ‘Something special is happening here’,” he added. Hussey further said CSK’s title-winning campaign on comeback gave him goosebumps.

“That was a special season. It gives you goosebumps just thinking about what happened that year. It was almost like it was meant to be after coming back to the IPL. MS played unbelievably well throughout the season. It was just a special time,” he stated further.