Defending IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had started training for IPL 2019 a few days ago, but something was missing. The management too was reluctant to make an official announcement about the practice matches. It was only on Sunday, that CSK started functioning like a well-oiled machine with everyone working that extra bit and not surprisingly, it was marked as the full-fledged beginning of their preparations.

The credit for the change can be given to their captain MS Dhoni, who had joined the training camps at MA Chidambaram stadium on Sunday. The CSK captain, who landed in the city late on Friday in Chennai, got down to business and was seen discussing with head coach Stephen Fleming and batting coach Mike Hussey.

Dhoni along with Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Suresh Raina, and the others batted at the nets under the watchful eyes of Fleming and Hussey.

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However, Dhoni recently was seen performing decently in the home series against Australia looked a cut above the rest both in terms of fitness and shotmaking.

Just like he indulged in a six-hitting competition ahead of India’s third ODI at Ranchi, MS was seen practicing the big hits on his first day of training for CSK before IPL 2019.

Here is the video of the same:

140 seconds of Classic #Thala Dhoni! #WhistlePodu #Yellove 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/079ZXqdUaS

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 16, 2019

The domestic players in the CSK squad, including Karn Sharma, KM Asif, and Tamil Nadu keeper N Jagadeesan started their training on March 6. On the other hand, Indian veterans like Raina and Murali Vijay joined the preparatory camp a few days later.

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Meanwhile, the sale of tickets for the first game of IPL-12 between CSK and Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on March 23, began on Sunday.

According to sources, tickets for the tournament opener were sold out.