Dale Steyn, the former South Africa bowler, noted that CSK keeper-batsman MS Dhoni’s prowess in captaincy makes up for his misfortune with the bat in his twilight years. The former Indian skipper MS Dhoni has led the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their ninth IPL final in 12 attempts, and his team is on the lookout to win his fourth IPL title.
Dale Steyn noted that when captains don’t perform, it usually rubs off on the team. But in this instance, it has not been the same since both CSK, and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have made it to the final. KKR skipper Eoin Morgan has also endured a torrid time with the bat this season. Dale Steyn also termed MS Dhoni the ‘poster boy’ when it comes to keeping his cool while donning the captain’s role.
Dale Steyn hails MS Dhoni as a skipper:
Both MS Dhoni and Eoin Morgan are currently in the midst of their worst IPL forms ever. MS Dhoni has come out to bat 11 times this season, scoring only 114 runs averaging 16.2 at a strike rate of 106.54. Eoin Morgan, meanwhile, has batted in 15 IPL 2021 innings so far. He has mustered only 129 runs at an average of 11.73 and a strike rate of 98.47. In addition, he has scored just once in double digits since the tournament shifted to the UAE.
“It boils down to the last game, who can handle pressure the most and MS just looks like the guy that has done it so many times. Morgan is catching up, winning the world cup and having done well with the England team and all but MS Dhoni is the poster boy for cool, calm and collective when it comes to captaincy. Even if he has not scored runs,” said Dale Steyn.
MS Dhoni has achieved it all when it comes to the captaincy in the international arena as well as franchise cricket. On the other hand, Eoin Morgan will be looking to win the IPL and then lead England to glory in the upcoming T20 World Cup as well.
Dale Steyn: Both The Finalists’ Skippers Haven’t Been In Form But It Hasn’t Bothered The Two Franchises
With Eoin Morgan and MS Dhoni struggling with the bat, Dale Steyn outlined how pressure might be the difference-maker considering the one-off clash remaining in the final. The England skipper has only contributed 129 runs, while MS Dhoni has accounted for just 114 runs with the bat this season.
Steyn added: “Both of these teams have made the finals and both the captains have not done well at all. But it might boil down to pressure. Leading upto the tournament, everyone contributed where they can, but this is one game and that might be the problem. So far, it has not bothered both sides, they made it to the finals without the captain scoring runs,” Steyn explained.
CSK have been successful in three of their eight IPL finals so far. Meanwhile, KKR has a 100 per cent record when it comes to finals, with their first crown coming with a win over CSK back in 2012. The two sides will face off for the 2021 IPL trophy at the Dubai International Stadium later tonight (October 15).
Eoin Morgan led England to victory in the 2019 50-over World Cup. MS Dhoni masterminded India’s wins. He was India’s captain when they won the Twenty20 World Cup in 2007 and the 2011 50-over title. But neither has been a big run-scorer in this year’s pandemic-hit tournament.