Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has lauded Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni and said that the skipper was making an impact once again in the ongoing IPL 2023 season. While Dhoni has not played any significantly big innings, his cameos as a finisher, Dhoni has given fans plenty to cheer about.
Matthew Hayden was impressed by what he saw from the 41-year-old’s bat this season. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Hayden admitted that he was wondering at one point last season if Dhoni is ever going to play again.
Currently, the Chennai Super Kings are at the top of the IPL 2023 points table thanks to their 49-run win over the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) the other day at Eden Gardens. Thanks to half-centuries from Devon Conway, Shivam Dube, and Ajinkya Rahane, CSK posted a massive 235/4 in 20 overs.
In reply, though Jason Roy and Rinku Singh made fifties, the target was too much for them and they only managed 186/8 and lost by 49 runs.
He Is In Great Touch Himself: Matthew Hayden On MS Dhoni
In the interview with NDTV, Hayden said that he was reminded of the ‘mangoes trade’ during his active days as a player. It was Dhoni who had sent Hayden mangoes when the latter was lacking motivation.
“That was a bit of a low-cost trade”, Hayden said when asked if he is sending mangoes to Dhoni.
“Runs for mangoes, isn’t it? It seemed pretty simple. He is in great touch himself. Last year we were thinking, is he going to play again and he has come out this season with a huge strike-rate of over 200. He is creating an impact once again, like the way he has in the IPL. He is having those cameo innings which is superb,” he said.
Dhoni has been talking about fans giving him farewell at every venue he has played thus far making his followers tensed about his impending retirement.