You can never count out CSK and MS Dhoni: Parthiv Patel

MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had a poor run in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as for the first time they failed to qualify for the playoffs and were placed at seventh position in the points table. This time too, CSK, like all the other franchises, will have a massive disadvantage as BCCI has decided that no franchise will be playing any matches at their home grounds during IPL 2021.

Former wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel opined on the three-time champions saying that one should never underestimate CSK due to their skipper MS Dhoni. Patel hailed Dhoni as one of the greatest captains saying that the CSK skipper can change the game with his tactical decisions at any point in time. Parthiv believes that CSK will bounce back stronger just like they had done in 2018 after a two-year ban.

“CSK is a team you cannot count out and even above that is the team’s captain MS Dhoni, you can never count him out as well. T20 is a format where the captain plays a huge role because you have to take decisions on the spot. However much planning you might do but if a batsman comes and scores 30 runs off two overs, all your planning fails. MS Dhoni’s specialty is to take correct decisions in such situations.

“If we talk about their comeback after two years, they won the IPL that year and after that almost won, lost on the last ball and then also people were questioning the team, that it is a Dad’s Army and all. But the way he manages the team and the way he performs, the campaign may not have been good last year but they have been playing for thirteen years and some time or the other an odd year can happen like that,” said Patel while speaking on Star Sports.

MS Dhoni and the CSK management will only think about getting the best from the available resources: Parthiv Patel

IPL 2021 auction saw CSK roping two spinners namely Moeen Ali and Krishnappa Gowtham. Both the players would have added a lot of value to the team if CSK had to play on the pitches in Chennai. However, they will be playing their league matches in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kolkata which are known to assist seamers more. Speaking about the same, Parthiv said that though there are challenges, MS will try his best to make use of the available resources.

“This team’s practice and the new players they have got, there will be a question how they will play Moeen Ali and Gowtham in Mumbai. If they had been in Chennai, Moeen Ali and Gowtham would have been great selections but all those things are now over. MS Dhoni and the CSK management will only think about getting the best from the available resources and no one knows that better than MS Dhoni,” concluded Patel.