MS Dhoni's frank view on Chennai Super Kings' prodigious playoff performance: "There is no recipe"
About
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, captain of CSK, remarked on Saturday that there is no special formula for taking a team into 12 playoffs in 14 seasons other than selecting players who adhere to the "team first philosophy" and having a cooperative management that sticks with the team through good times and bad. Dhoni, who is presumably participating in his 16th IPL, has batted as low as No. 8 and has given players like Shivam Dube opportunities to succeed in roles that are specifically meant for them.
What they said
"There isn't really a recipe (for CSK's playoff performance). You make an effort to select the top players and assign them the ideal positions." He said this after CSK secured their play-off berth with a commanding 77-run victory against DC here on Saturday. "You use them in the manner where they have the most chances of succeeding and groom them in the areas where they are not as strong," Dhoni said.
"It falls into place if you're doing what's best for the team. Both the management and the support staff have been excellent. They continually reassure us to keep doing what we are doing and not to worry. Of course, the participants are crucial." Dhoni also shared his thoughts on the traits he values in a teammate. "You require a person who always puts the team first. You are looking for people with certain traits. It is challenging to assess something from a distance." For Dhoni, it is essential that his choices match the team culture so that the players may have faith in them.
Overview
The former captain of India that won the World Cup had nothing but respect for the pace team of Tushar Deshpande and Matheesha Pathirana, who have performed admirably for CSK in the competition.
The importance of confidence in death bowling cannot be overstated. Tushar has mastered death-over bowling, if you observe him. The most important factor is how many times you can perform under pressure. The majority of the time, you execute when you are confident, according to Dhoni, "a lot of work is done behind the scenes, and I believe the bowlers have accepted the burden."
