Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa heaped praise on MS Dhoni's fitness after watching him showcase his wicketkeeping skills in the opening match of IPL 2024 between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on March 22.
Uthappa compared Dhoni's pre-season fitness routine to that of tennis legend Roger Federer, saying that the former India and CSK captain has put in hard work behind the scenes ahead of this season.
In the IPL 2024 opener, Dhoni showed remarkable agility and sharpness on the field despite undergoing knee surgery last year.
He executed a brilliant run-out and took two catches, showcasing his reflexes by preventing boundaries with quick dives behind the wickets at the Chepauk Stadium.
There was one impressive moment, when the legendary wicketkeeper dived to stop an inside edge from RCB skipper Faf du Plessis, preventing the ball from reaching the boundary.
On the final delivery of RCB’s innings, Dhoni ran out Anuj Rawat with a swift underarm throw that hit the stumps, surprising Dinesh Karthik at the other end as he was attempting a quick single.
Robin Uthappa told JioCinema: “He certainly does. His knee looks brand new at the moment. The fact that he is jogging and striding well just goes to show he has done the work behind the scenes.”
The former CSK batter added, “Just like Roger Federer. Nobody knows the kind of work ethic he has got, but he turns up in tournaments and looks really good. MS Is doing that.”
Uthappa also revealed how Dhoni used some tennis sessions to return to fitness while he was on the road to recovery after knee surgery last year.
He noted, “He is looking good, looking healthy and strong from the looks of it, and seems to be batting well.”
He signed off by saying, “Like I said in the past, CSK will play MS Dhoni in a wheelchair. But I think he has begun well. He will be happy about it. He has been playing tennis, and paddle tennis to keep himself fit. He looks as good as gold at the moment.”
(With Jio Cinema Inputs)
