While Chennai Super Kings won the IPL 2023 title, there was a rumour of an alleged rift between captain MS Dhoni and veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja as well. However, it is likely going on since 2022 when Jadeja was given CSK’s captaincy but Dhoni took over once the team started to struggle under Jadeja. Later, Jadeja jokingly said that the fans used to wait for him to get out so that they could see MS Dhoni in the crease. However, amid the rumours of such a rift, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan added that Jadeja has never had any feelings against Dhoni’s feelings and has never complained about that as well.
“As far as Jadeja is concerned, he bowled superbly. While batting, our line-up of Ruturaj, Conway, Moeen, Rahane, with the results, whenever he [Jadeja] went in to bat, he had 5-10 balls left. In such situations, it can or can’t click sometimes. But the thing is he also knew Dhoni was to come in next, and he himself would get just 2-3 balls sometimes,” Kasi Viswanathan told ESPNcricinfo. “In such situations whenever he went in, the crowd used to welcome Dhoni. In a way, he may have felt hurt. Any player for that matter may have had that pressure. But he didn’t complain about it even though he put out a tweet.”
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However, it went ahead after MS Dhoni was seen in a heated conversation with Jadeja when Chennai took on Delhi Capitals. Talking about that argument, Viswanathan said that everyone has always high respect for Dhoni.
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“It’s all part and parcel of the game. After the last game, people saw videos online and assumed I’m pacifying Jadeja, but it wasn’t like that. I was talking to him about the match, what he did. We didn’t have any other discussion,” Kasi Viswanathan said. “Everyone knows in a team environment, what happens in the dressing room, no one is privy to it outside. We don’t have any problem. He always had high respect for Dhoni. After the final also, he said, ‘I dedicate this knock to Dhoni.’ That is the kind of respect he has for MS.”
