Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni said that the opportunity to understand and interact with foreign players, and their culture is the thing that made the IPL different, unique and special as well. The veteran has also led a record 226 IPL matches, including over 200 for CSK, in his 16-year IPL career as well. However, Dhoni also has the most IPL wins as captain with 133, while leading CSK to a joint-record five titles as well.

The CSK team that played in 2008 was well-balanced and they had a lot of famous all-rounders. The team had a vast pool of experienced and talented players such as Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, Muttiah Muralitharan, Makhaya Ntini, Jacob Oram as well.

Ahead of the IPL 2024, MS Dhoni shared his views in a Star Sports video, saying, “The Chennai team that played in 2008 was a well-balanced team and had a lot of all rounders. The team had a vast pool of experienced players such as Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, Muttiah Muralitharan, Makhaya Ntini, Jacob Oram. To get them all together in one dressing room, to get to know each other was a challenge. I always believed that when you’re leading a team, it is important to make sure you understand each other. Once you know the individual, you know his strength, his weaknesses, it becomes easier as a team to move in the right direction.”

“IPL gave me an opportunity to understand a lot of foreign players. I wasn’t somebody who talked a lot to the opposition players but IPL provided an opportunity to know about other players, to know what they think about cricket, to know their culture. All of that made IPL very interesting,” MS Dhoni further added.