Former Rising Pune Super Giants (RPSG) analyst coach Prasanna Agoram shared his experience of working with MS Dhoni at the franchise in 2016.
Dhoni’s name has been hogging over the headlines recenlty. The wicketkeeper batter stepped down as CSK’s skipper and passed on the leadership baton to Ravindra Jadeja. The 40-year-old will go down as one of the finest captains that the league has witnessed.
He has led CSK to four titles in 2010, 2011, 2018 and 2021 and is one of the main reasons behind them being the most consistent team in the tournament. Being appointed captain of the franchise in 2008, Dhoni took the franchise to record nine IPL finals in the tournament history.
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Dhoni captained the franchise in 204 games and made sure that CSK made it into the playoffs of all the seasons they had participated except in 2020, where they finished seventh. He won 121 games as a skipper with a 59.60% win record.
He was also part of the now-defunct Rising Super Giants in 2016 and 2017 when CSK was banned over a corruption scandal. The wicketkeeper batter also captained the franchise in 2016.
Writing for Cricbuzz, Prasanna Agoram recalled his first chat with MS Dhoni at now-defunct Rising Pune Super Giants during the IPL 2016.
"When I had the opportunity to work with Mahendra Singh Dhoni for Pune Super Giants in IPL 2016, the first day we met he said, 'Let's have a chat.' We were in the Pune Stadium and he was about to put his pads on.
“He asked if he could get me a filter coffee. 'Yes please,' I replied. He called the guys there and gave a wink to get a filter coffee, and then continued chatting with me,” Prasanna Agoram said.
Prasanna further said that when he met Dhoni, the former CSK skipper greeted him well but told him that he shouldn’t give him advice until he asks.
'Look, I know you have a lot of experience in this field and that players like you, and the coach Stephen Fleming got you on board. It's a pleasure to work with you,' he said. 'Give all the info and strategies to the coach and the players.
“Get the strategy meetings done with the players along with the coach, but don't expect me to be there and also don't give me any advice until I ask you. But mark a copy on the email on all your communications with the coach and players,” he said.
MS Dhoni will be next seen in action when Chennai Super Kings takes on Kolkata Knight Riders in the first match of IPL 2022 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
(Cricbuzz inputs)
