As Chennai Super Kings (CSK) gear up for the IPL 2023 Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans, all-rounder Moeen Ali praised the leadership qualities of captain MS Dhoni, highlighting a crucial aspect that sets him apart from other captains. Having been part of CSK for three years, Moeen noted that Dhoni stands out as a captain who doesn’t drop players based on a couple of bad performances, unlike other teams.
“The captain is very important and he obviously has been very important. At the end of the day, the youngsters have to bowl the ball. Those guys have probably played more than they expected to play. They start with injuries and they have taken their chances amazingly well,” Moeen Ali said in a video shared by CSK on Twitter.
Throughout the IPL 2023, CSK has seen contributions from emerging bowlers like Matheesha Pathirana and Tushar Deshpande, who played crucial roles in the team’s success. Despite initial setbacks, Dhoni backed these players and instilled confidence in them, allowing them to showcase their potential.
ALSO READ: Kapil Dev Expresses Optimism For India’s World Cup 2023 Campaign
“In a good team, the competition is high. There are people always fighting for places. So, what happens is you take that responsibility and you want to take your chance. And these chances don’t come very often. So that mindset changes from the player that right ‘I need to take my chance’. But saying that, you need the captain to really speak to the players and the bowling coaches. And that’s where CSK is very special, because that’s what they do and they give these guys confidence,” Moeen Ali stated.
Moeen Bhai in awe over our way of things! Watch him narrate his journey with the pride this year so far!
Anbuden Diaries new episode out now 📹🔗#WhistlePodu #Yellove 🦁💛
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 22, 2023
According to Moeen, what distinguishes MS Dhoni as a captain is his ability to identify the potential in players and provide them with opportunities to excel. Unlike other teams, where players might be dropped after a couple of bad games, Dhoni and the CSK coaching staff see the bigger picture and nurture the talent within the squad.
“What separates MS from everybody else as captain in many ways is that, say guys have a couple of bad games, especially in the first couple of games, and I think every other team would drop the player or say ‘look you are probably not good enough right now.’ And that’s where MS sees things and coaches see things in players. They see the potential and give them chances. Most teams don’t do that. Most teams don’t stick with the players long,” Moeen Ali added.
ALSO READ: Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma Eye Records In The Upcoming ODI Series
As the IPL 2023 progresses, Moeen Ali has played an important role for CSK, contributing with both bat and ball. In 13 matches, he scored 115 runs at an average of 16.42 and a strike-rate of 132.18, while also picking up nine wickets at an economy rate of 7.50, including a four-wicket haul. With MS Dhoni’s leadership and the belief in young talents, CSK aims to make a strong impact in the playoffs and clinch the IPL title once again.
