Navjot Singh Sidhu praises MS Dhoni’s aura, -‘He has nothing left to prove, yet people don’t want him to leave the game’

When MS Dhoni played in Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) four-wicket victory over bitter rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) on Sunday, 23 March, he made his comeback to the pitch for the first time in over a year.

The 43-year-old sent the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav back to the pavilion with a stumping in just 0.12 seconds, reversing the course of the current Indian Premier League 2025. To the surprise of the fervent CSK supporters there, Dhoni launched right in and showed no symptoms of rust. The wicketkeeper-batter, who is nearing the end of his career, was praised for his fitness and performance by former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu after the game.

Even at 43, he is the greatest. Like vintage wine, he improves with age. Just take a look at his level of fitness. It is essential to a wicketkeeper’s survival,

MS Dhoni skill and effortless execution are outstanding,” Sidhu told Star Sports following the game.

Vignesh Puthur, a rookie who claimed three significant wickets for the Mumbai Indians on Sunday, was seen chatting with MS Dhoni after the victory before receiving a pat on the back. How much that little encounter could mean to a child, Sidhu explained. He also supported Dhoni, who is now 50, to reach a half-century for CSK.

“Over the years, he has gained an incredible amount of respect. The sight of him approaching young Vignesh, giving him a pat on the back, and offering encouragement was the sweetest and most touching. A player may conquer life’s most difficult obstacles with the help of that kind of inspiration, which is similar to premium petrol. At some point, Dhoni has gained admirers. Even though he has nothing more to prove, people still want him to stay in the game. And I’d wager my life that he’s the only cricket player who, at fifty, could still score a half-century for the Chennai Super Kings. Noted, Sidhu.

Ishan Kishan is genuinely unique not only because of his talent but also because of his attitude: Navjot Singh Sidhu

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals played a doubleheader on Sunday. The afternoon IPL match took place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. During that match, Ishan Kishan scored his first IPL century, which helped the Pat Cummins-led team win by 44 runs.

Because of his capacity to intimidate opposing bowlers, Sidhu likened Kishan to legendary players like Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, and Sachin Tendulkar. In his undefeated innings of 106 off 47 deliveries, the Jharkhand wicketkeeper hit 11 fours and six sixes. Kishan’s masterful usage of the bottom hand, which is a characteristic associated with the great Virat Kohli, was another aspect of Kishan’s batting style that Sidhu examined.

The battle was a blitzkrieg! He crushed the opponents, hammering them into submission. In T20 cricket, the ability to terrorise the opposition is the best tool a batter can possess. Sachin and Sehwag took that action. Furthermore, Dhoni does it at some point. That kind of dominance by a batter leaves the opposition defenceless and only observes. In addition to his miraculous wrists, Ishan Kishan’s early arrival at the ball is what makes him so brilliant, Sidhu remarked.

“If you watch guys like Virat Kohli, you’ll see how important the bottom hand is. The movements of great players is always fluid. “Kishan has also mastered that technique, including the scoop shot,” the cricketer-turned-commentator continued. “Virat’s bottom hand comes into play from a different angle.”

Sidhu was also struck by Kishan’s upbeat demeanour and enthusiasm. The former cricket player hoped Kishan will be healthy and ready for Thursday, March 27, Sunrisers’ next game against the Lucknow Super Giants.

However, Ishan Kishan’s mindset is what really sets him apart, not simply his talent. He makes a huge difference with his confidence, body language, and energy. He has an exciting demeanour that scares the competition. I think that’s really unique because he brings that “I’m coming for you” attitude. He was hurt after the game, which really disappointed me. I only hope he gets better soon, sees the invisible, and overcomes the insurmountable. Sidhu said, “I hope he remains resilient and keeps performing well in this tournament.”