KEY STORY
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Leader, master tactician and absolute legend of a cricketer – Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni has remained synonymous with the Yellow Army since the inception of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. The talismanic leader of the Chennai-based franchise has once again etched his name in the annals of IPL history on Friday. Dhoni, who masterminded India’s twin World Cup triumphs in 2007 and 2011 guided CSK to their fourth IPL trophy.
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Set to join the Indian national camp for the ICC World T20I as the team’s mentor, Dhoni capped off the 14th season of the IPL by scripting CSK’s incredible comeback. After recording their worst-ever finish last year, Dhoni-led CSK bounced back by clinching the famous trophy in the 14th season of the cash-rich league. Nicknamed Thala Dhoni, the 40-year-old has also rewritten history in the shortest format of the gentlemen’s game.
The #SuperCham21ons Moment 😍#CSKvKKR #WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/CfgcSsJISg
— Chennai Super Kings – Mask P😷du Whistle P🥳du! (@ChennaiIPL) October 15, 2021
1) 300 appearances as captain in T20 cricket
United diagnosticss
Dhoni recorded his 300th appearance in the shortest format when the Ranchi stalwart marshalled his troops in the final of the IPL at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday. Dhoni is the first captain to lead a team in 300 T20 matches across all T20 formats. The Chennai captain played his 10th IPL final (9th with CSK) when the three-time champions squared off against KKR at Dubai. Besides leading India in 72 matches, Dhoni has captained CSK in 214 games (including 23 matches of Champions League) and the ex-Indian captain had also led now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants in 14.
2) Oldest captain to win IPL trophy
Ageless Dhoni has become the oldest captain to win an IPL title after CSK decimated KKR by 27 runs in the summit clash of the 14th season. Faf du Plessis’ 86-run knock and Shardul Thakur’s three-wicket haul paved the way for Dhoni-led CSK to upstage KKR in the final of the world’s richest T20 league. The 40-year-old is the second captain to win three or more IPL trophies after Rohit Sharma. Legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne had won the inaugural edition of the IPL as Rajasthan Royals’ captain at the age of 39. Australian southpaw Adam Gilchrist guided Deccan Chargers to IPL glory in the 2009 season at the age of 37.
3) Record 8th title in T20
Chennai’s fourth title-triumph in domestic cricket’s biggest extravaganza was also Dhoni’s 8th trophy as captain in a T20 tournament. In multi-team tournaments or competitions with 3 or more teams, Dhoni’s tally of 8 titles is the most by a captain. Dhoni has completed the massive achievement in his 300th game as captain of a T20 side. All four of CSK’s IPL titles have come during the captaincy stint of Dhoni. Besides winning four IPL titles with CSK, Dhoni also guided the Men In Yellow to two trophy triumphs in the Champions League T20. Dhoni also led India to T20I World Cup glory in 2007. The charismatic leader also guided India to the Asia cup title in 2016.
