‘His wisdom is tremendous’ – bowling consultant Eric Simmons explains MS Dhoni’s impact on CSK

At the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Monday, April 14, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) trounced the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), recording a victory that raised spirits. MS Dhoni helped his team cross the finish line with a vital knock of 26* off 11 balls. His late blitzkrieg enabled CSK chase down a 167-run goal with five wickets and three balls remaining, earning him the title of Player of the Match.

Dhoni, who was elected captain of the team after Ruturaj Gaikwad was sidelined due to injury after playing the first five games, has a wonderful relationship with the players and head coach Stephen Fleming, according to CSK’s bowling consultant Eric Simmons, who spoke after the victory. According to the former South African speedster, Dhoni doesn’t instruct his colleagues in the game’s technical components. But they get knowledge from his grasp of the game and his ability to remain composed under duress.

“You know, even when he wasn’t captain, his influence was always present. The bond he has with Rutu is crucial. The relationship he has with Fleming is crucial. His rapport with each of the players is crucial. He doesn’t teach you the usual technical aspects of the game; instead, he teaches you how to play it by observing the peace that exists in the environment. He imparts knowledge about cricket, which is a crucial component of the game. At the news conference following the game, Simmons stated, “So that influence, that calmness that he brings, has always been there, but tonight we saw it again.”

Following Gaikwad’s exclusion due to an elbow injury, Simmons expressed disappointment for his absence.

On April 11, MS Dhoni assumed captaincy during the match against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Simmons claimed that despite CSK’s defeat in that match, the wicketkeeper-batter’s soothing presence was crucial to Monday’s exciting victory against Lucknow.

“You know, whether he is captain or not, he is the same individual. When he wasn’t, his real impact on the team remained same. He is undoubtedly a crucial component of our setup. Although it’s unfortunate that Ruturaj isn’t playing and serving as our captain and leader, MS has always been that way. As I mentioned, he has always been available to offer counsel, ideas, and insight, so it doesn’t feel like a big difference. As I mentioned earlier, he always has a soothing effect and imparts a high degree of knowledge about the proper approach to play cricket. Simmons came to the conclusion that “his wisdom is tremendous.”