IPL 20230: MS Dhoni isn’t going to be as quick as he was 15 years ago, says Stephen Fleming on CSK skipper’s fitness

The 41-year-old MS Dhoni is still a crucial component of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lineup, according to head coach Stephen Fleming.

• MS Dhoni suffered knee problems prior to the IPL 2023 season’s opening game.
• MS Dhoni was praised as a legend by Stephen Fleming.
• Gujarat Titans defeated Super Kings by five wickets on Friday.

It won’t be reasonable to expect MS Dhoni to be as quick as he was at the height of his career, according to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming. Dhoni had a knee problem prior to CSK’s game against Gujarat Titans (GT) on March 31, and rumours that he might miss the opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season circulated.

Nonetheless, the 41-year-old participated in the game at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, which CSK ultimately defeated by five wickets. Dhoni, according to Fleming, is still an important player for the squad and has a lot to offer even as a hitter.

He never stopped playing. I’m unsure of the source of that tale. Throughout the month-long preseason, he had been dealing with a hurting knee, but today it was only cramps and not the knee. Even if he won’t be as quick and nimble as he was 15 years ago, he will still be an important member of the team and a fantastic leader of the side. He is a vital athlete to have on the pitch because he is aware of his limitations. Is it true that he is a legend? In the post-game press conference, Fleming said.

Fleming lauds Hangargekar

Fleming also gave Rajvardhan Hangargekar, a fast bowler who debuted in the IPL on Friday, high praise. The 20-year-old concluded with statistics of 4-0-36-2 to rank as CSK’s fourth youngest debutant. He secured the important dismissals of Vijay Shankar, Sai Sudharsan, and Wriddhiman Saha.

“There have been significant advancements. His outstanding work has been much more reliable. He still needs to work on several things before you feel comfortable. It’s a hefty ask to perform in front of 100,000 people on your debut. He performed admirably, but there were a few mistakes, which is to be expected with a young player. But it’s important for him to play and pick up some wickets, said Fleming.