Gambhir also lauded Dhoni's finishing abilities for CSK in IPL.
MS Dhoni won all the three ICC white-ball trophies as India captain and remains the only skipper to achieve this feat. He also won five IPL trophies with CSK, before stepping down as captain ahead of IPL 2024.
Gambhir, on the other hand, won two IPL trophies with KKR and was the member of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup winning sides.
Gambhir said that he had to be at his tactical best to overcome MS Dhoni when he was leading KKR against CSK. Gambhir said he enjoyed his rivalry with Dhoni and the Super Kings during his days as the captain of the Knight Riders.
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"I wanted to win. I am very clear in my mind. Friends, mutual respect, everything will remain. But when you are in the middle, I am captaining KKR and he is captaining CSK. If you ask him, he will probably give you the same answer. It's about winning. Obviously, MS is the most successful captain India will ever have. I don't think anyone can reach that level - winning 3 ICC trophies," Gambhir told Star Sports.
Gambhir was observed having intense conversations with KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit during training sessions at Chepauk Stadium. While Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer will lead CSK and KKR on Monday, fans will be looking forward to MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir's reunion, as well as the tactical duel between the two greats.
The 2011 World Cup winner heaped praise on MS Dhoni's ability to never give up, saying that opposition teams were wary of the wicketkeeper-batter's finishing skills even when CSK needed 20-odd runs off the last over.
"But, yes, in the IPL, enjoyed every bit of it because I knew MS had that tactical mindset. He is very good tactically. Knew how to control the spinners, how to set the fields against them and would never give up as well. He batted at No. 6 or 7, and we knew that till he was there, he could finish off the game.
Even if they needed 20 runs in an over, and MS was in the middle, he could finish off that game. At the same time, I knew I had the bowling attack to challenge anyone in the Super Kings. Knew that tactically had to be better than him in every front because he is not that aggressive on the field, but knew he would not give up. Chennai is that kind of a team, against whom you know you are not winning until the last ball was bowled," Gambhir said.
KKR are unbeaten so far in the IPL 2024, while CSK have lost two games out of four they have played thus far.