Picture Credit: Twitter
Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni has arrived in Chennai prior to the second half of IPL 2021 in the United Arab Emirates. The season is set to resume on September 19, 2021 and the three-time champions will be leaving for the Middle East on August 14, as per reports. Before their scheduled departure for Chennai, Thala was spotted at the Chennai Airport. Although Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, there is hardly any dip in his popularity.
Dhoni was surrounded by security officials but yet did not disappoint his fans some of whom were waving to him, while others managed to get themselves and Dhoni in the same frame. The former Indian captain looked like his typical self and displayed a calm and composed demeanour.
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While IPL 2021 was originally scheduled to end in May, several Coronavirus cases inside bio-secure bubbles forced the abrupt suspension of the tournament. MS enjoys a stellar run as a leader of the Yellow Brigade. Under his captaincy, CSK had reached the Playoffs of every single season they had participated in except for 2020, where they became the first team to get knocked out of the Playoffs race. However, in 2021, Dhoni-led Chennai were looking like their dominant self and had started the season on a high by 5 wins from their first 7 matches.
In a huge boost to the team, Moeen Ali and Sam Curran, players who played a key role in CSK's resurgence, are set to be available for the remainder of the season. This was confirmed after the England and Wales Cricket Board's affirmation. Other than that, Dhoni himself would be looking to get into some fine batting form ahead of the season. While he scored 200 runs in 14 matches in IPL 2020, which was one of the main reasons for their early ouster, he managed just 37 in the first 7 matches of 2021, at a strike rate of 123.33.
CSK and Dhoni would hope that their talismanic leader is back to his best with the bat which will make the side even a more threatening force to reckon with.