As the anticipation for the IPL 2024 season opener between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) reaches its peak, former CSK batsman and current RCB opener Faf du Plessis has showered praise on MS Dhoni, labeling him as the “greatest ever captain.”
With the cricketing world awaiting the clash between these two powerhouse teams at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on March 22, du Plessis’ remarks have added an extra layer of excitement to the highly anticipated encounter.
Faf du Plessis Praises MS Dhoni’s Leadership, Recalls CSK Days
Du Plessis, who previously played under Dhoni’s leadership at CSK before joining RCB, emphasized Dhoni’s profound impact on his career trajectory. Speaking to Star Sports, the South African stalwart expressed his gratitude towards Dhoni, attributing much of his leadership growth to his time spent with the CSK skipper.
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Reflecting on his stint with CSK, du Plessis remarked, “He (Dhoni) is the greatest ever captain, and I am very lucky that I have spent some time with him over the years. I think that’s probably the biggest thing in my career, shaped me from a leadership perspective, were my years at Chennai, just observing MS and Stephen Fleming.”
Faf Du Plessis:
"MS Dhoni is the greatest captain ever". 🔥pic.twitter.com/v6npxtiGFc
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 19, 2024
Acknowledging his immense respect for Dhoni, du Plessis likened their relationship to that of siblings, where competition is fueled by admiration and respect. “When I see him, it’s like a big brother that you see; you want to beat him but you don’t really want to beat him because there’s so much respect for that,” he added.
Faf du Plessis Makes MS Dhoni-Virat Kohli Comparison
Furthermore, du Plessis paid homage to Dhoni and his current RCB captain, Virat Kohli, recognizing their monumental contributions to Indian cricket. “The reason why Chennai is so loved and followed is MS Dhoni, and the reason why RCB is so loved and passionate is because of Virat Kohli,” du Plessis remarked, highlighting the significance of the upcoming clash between the two franchises.
Du Plessis, instrumental in CSK’s 2021 title triumph with 633 runs, acknowledged the passionate fan bases of both franchises. “The Chennai-RCB rivalry is iconic,” he said. “It’s largely driven by two of the biggest icons in Indian cricket – MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. I feel incredibly fortunate to have played alongside both these legends.”
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With the IPL season opener doubling as an emotional homecoming for Du Plessis, he’ll aim to get his RCB campaign off to a flying start, potentially alongside Virat Kohli at the top of the order. Cricket fans can expect a thrilling encounter as the two IPL powerhouses clash in Chennai on Friday.
