MS Dhoni had a stellar IPL 2018 campaign with the bat. With 455 runs from 15 innings, Dhoni finished as the second highest run-getter for Chennai Super Kings despite batting in the middle order.
Apart from his awe-inspiring show with the willow, Dhoni has done a commendable job while managing his resources. It is worth mentioning here that the Chennai-based franchise had finished the league stage at No. 2, having won 9 of their 14 matches.
CSK eventually clinched the IPL 2018 title by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday (May 27). It was Chennai’s third IPL triumph under Dhoni and the first one since 2011.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Kings XI Punjab opener KL Rahul lauded the CSK skipper for rewinding the clock and recalled how his destructive knock against KXIP almost secure a thriller for Chennai.
"I always enjoy watching Mahi bhai bat on TV.. I enjoy it. The way he won matches was wonderful to see. It was great to see him back as captain and he won the IPL again," Rahul quoted.
"That speaks highly about him as a person and a leader. Absolutely enjoyed watching him hit those sixes. He gives a lot of heart attacks to the opposition which is good to see," he added.
Rahul himself performed brilliantly throughout the IPL 2018 campaign. The stylish right-hander finished the season as the third highest run-getter with 659 runs from 14 innings. Thanks to his stellar show, Rahul earned his place back in the national team across all three formats.
Rahul was happy with his personal performances and said it was a great experience to be a part of the new franchise and play under the captaincy of Ravichandran Aswhin.
"What can I say? Happy I performed well in the IPL. This was a big year for me. Every year is a big year. But it was a new franchise and it was a great experience overall,” Rahul asserted.
"The two months we spent together - it was something very new. Coming from a different franchise was.. a very new experience. It's not that we could not get back our winning momentum after the break. The T20 format was very tricky. In the second half, it was different,” he further remarked.
Reflecting on Ashwin’s leadership during the cash-rich event, KL Rahul said: "Ashwin was very calm - he spent a lot of time with the bowlers. He understands what the bowlers are thinking about. It's the same with the batsmen as well. He understands what bowlers go through after a bad day. He was very relaxed as a captain, very well balanced."
Rahul concluded by praising his fellow opener Chris Gayle, who finished the season with 368 runs from 11 innings.
"Chris Gayle an entertainer on and off the field. If he fires, no team can stop him. We are assured of a win. It was great to see him play the way he did this year. He was hungry. Our relationship from the past carried on over to the ground. Our role was to be as destructive as possible in the Powerplay," he signed-off.
