Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni welcomed England all-rounder Ben Stokes into the CSK family during the team dinner ahead of their opening clash with Gujarat Titans on Friday. The stylish left-handed all-rounder is seen as a possible successor of MS Dhoni as they picked him for whopping INR 16.25 crores ahead of IPL 2023.
The four-time champions are always known for backing their players, as many players credited the franchise for keeping the team as one big family. Chennai Super Kings welcomed the new players ahead of IPL 2023, including Ben Stokes, Ajinkya Rahane, and others. Speaking at the event, CSK Skipper welcomed Ben Stokes to the new setup.
“I would like to welcome all the new players. Ben, I know you are not new, but you are new for CSK so please, I request you to come on stage,” MS Dhoni on welcoming Ben Stokes.
Along with Ben Stokes, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Ajay Mandal, and Nishant Sindhu were presented their jersey and welcomed into the franchise.
The retained Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, along with others, were seen in the event along with Dhoni and N. Srinivasan – having a conversation with each other during the event.
Earlier during the IPL auction 2023, Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan stated that MS Dhoni was very excited about having Ben Stokes in the team. The duo has already played together in Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017, where Stokes was named the most valuable player of the tournament
“Very excited to get Stokes and we were lucky also because he came up at the end. We wanted an allrounder and MS was very happy that we got Stokes,” Kasi Viswanathan had said during the auction.
On Thursday, it was stated Dhoni could miss the IPL 2023 opener against defending champions Gujarat Titans due to a niggle in his left knee, which was later denied by their CEO Kasi Viswanathan stating that is completely fit to hit the ground.
MS Dhoni Will Use Him Very Well – Ajinkya Rahane On Stokes
As the final countdown has begun before the start of the Indian Premier League 2023, they were questions looming around, about how Ben Stokes will be used in the CSK team, as he bats at the top of the order of the England team in T20 cricket. Speaking on Stokes’s role in the team,
“You will see that tomorrow how Mahi bhai uses him. It’s completely in Mahi bhai’s mind. He will use him well,” Rahane said.
The Chennai-based franchise will look to make comeback in the season after a poor season in 2022 where they finished 9th in the points table. Chennai Super Kings had a solid preparation for this edition of IPL 2023 in Chepauk. MS Dhoni will be leading CSK in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League and will look to add a trophy to his cabinet.