This will not be going to be MS Dhoni’s final IPL, says Chennai Super Kings CEO

The 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks off on Friday and three-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play their first match, towards Delhi Capitals, on Saturday. Ahead of the event, CSK chief government Kasi Viswanathan speaks to The Indian Express in regards to the staff’s preparation, Cheteshwar Pujara and MS Dhoni’s future. Excerpts:
Last season was underwhelming by CSK’s lofty requirements. The staff didn’t qualify for the playoffs. Did Dhoni give a staff speak after the event?
No. Normally what we do is, we’ve a course of set earlier than we begin a event. So we did the method for final yr’s event additionally. It so occurred that we missed a few of our greatest gamers, and a few them received contaminated by Covid. Those (the state of affairs) have been past our attain. Now the staff is in fine condition. The course of has been good. They have been having apply classes for the final 15-20 days. And we imagine in our course of. The captain may be very clear – you need to do the method correctly and if the method is ok, the outcomes will come.
Could this be Dhoni’s remaining yr within the IPL as a cricketer? And if certainly that is his remaining yr, do you have got a succession plan prepared?
See, I don’t suppose it’ll be his remaining yr. This is my private view and I don’t suppose we’re anyone now.
Ravindra Jadeja hasn’t performed any aggressive cricket after he received injured in Australia. How is he shaping up on the nets?
See, Jadeja has been cleared by the NCA. He has joined our staff for apply. He is wanting good. He is working arduous. And we hope that he will probably be totally match by the point the IPL begins.
Suresh Raina additionally had little or no sport time coming into the IPL.
He performed the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. After that he has been training. He didn’t wish to play a 50-over event (Vijay Hazare Trophy). (But) he has been training with us additionally for the final 10 days. He may be very eager to do effectively. See, a participant of his calibre who has finished a lot for CSK in addition to the very best run-getter within the IPL for a interval of the final 10-12 years (earlier than Virat Kohli overtook him), he’s very eager to show himself.
Raina had abruptly left the CSK camp earlier than the beginning of the final yr’s event. Were there any arduous emotions on his return?
Nothing. CSK is sort of a household.
When you picked Pujara on the public sale, all people clapped. Pujara wasn’t part of the IPL for the previous couple of years and the frequent notion is that he’s a red-ball specialist. What was the thought course of behind bringing him on to the fold? Is it that you simply needed to honour his cricketing achievements or he could have a task to play on this IPL?
See, we additionally needed to honour him, that’s for certain. But on the similar time, I can let you know one factor, an individual of his calibre with such good method, he can adapt to any format. That is our view. He could be a participant who can contribute so much to CSK. That’s what we felt and that’s why we picked him. He will definitely have a task to play (up the order), however I can not say whether or not he’ll play the primary sport or the second sport. That will not be the query (additionally). He is a crucial a part of our group and we look ahead to his contribution.
You had a clear-cut public sale technique, investing closely in Moeen Ali (Rs 7 crore) and Ok Gowtham (Rs 9.25 crore), two spin-bowling all-rounders. But this yr additionally, matches will probably be performed at impartial venues albeit in India. Does it upset your plans a bit?
We are enjoying our matches in India the place spinners have all the time been helpful. That is among the the explanation why we picked the spinners, to strengthen our spin division. And invariably now that we’re enjoying 10 video games at one centre, the wickets will develop into gradual (and) it will likely be helpful for us.
Will or not it’s tough to fill Shane Watson’s void?
See, it is vitally tough to fill the void of Watson and what he has finished for us within the final three years. But on the similar time, we should respect his sentiment, that he was the one who needed to retire. It will probably be tough, however we will certainly work on it.