NEW DELHI
\nIt has been nearly four years since Mahendra Singh Dhoni quit international cricket, but the 41-year-old continues to deliver the goods for Chennai Super Kings after reinventing himself as a lower-order enforcer with the bat this season.
\nDhoni retired from the international duties in 2019 as India\u2019s most successful captain, having led the team to the T20 World Cup title in 2007 and the 50-over crown four years later.
\nHe masterminded Chennai Super Kings\u2019 four successful campaigns in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and remains immensely popular in Chennai, where people affectionately call him \u2018Thala\u2019, which means \u2018leader\u2019 in Tamil.
\nWidely regarded as a master tactician, Dhoni is also known for his swashbuckling batting \u2014 best illustrated by his unbeaten 183 against Pakistan in a 2005 one-day international in Jaipur.
\nAlthough he cannot reprise those knocks of his prime, Dhoni is producing useful cameos, usually at number eight, to help Chennai close in on a playoff berth this season.
\nAgainst Delhi Capitals on Wednesday, Dhoni\u2019s nine-ball 20 helped Chennai post 167-8, setting up their 27-run victory in the low-scoring contest.
\nDhoni\u2019s average of 48 is second among the Chennai batters and his 204-plus strike rate is higher than that of any of his team-mates.
\n\u201cI have told them, \u2018This is what I am supposed to do, don\u2019t make me run a lot\u2019 and it has been working,\u201d Dhoni quipped after the win against Delhi. \u201cThis is what I need to do, happy to contribute with whatever deliveries I\u2019m getting.\u201d
\nCoach Stephen Fleming said Dhoni had tailored a customised training to prepare for the role.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s really concentrated on those last three overs,\u201d Fleming said. \u201cHe\u2019s concentrated on really strong hitting practice and you can see the benefit of that.\u201d
\nA measure of his popularity is that teammate Ravindra Jadeja is apprehensive of batting ahead of his captain and incurring the wrath of their fans. \u201cEven when I\u2019m batting (at number seven), I can hear them chant his name,\u201d the all-rounder said after the match against Delhi. \u201cIf I bat higher, they\u2019d pray for my dismissal (so they can watch Dhoni bat).\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NEW DELHI It has been nearly four years since Mahendra Singh Dhoni quit international cricket, but the 41-year-old continues to deliver the goods for Chennai Super Kings after reinventing himself as a lower-order enforcer with the bat this season. Dhoni retired from the international duties in 2019 as India\u2019s most successful captain, having led the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":330874,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-330853","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n