MS Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. Ever since his international retirement, his ardent fans eagerly wait for the 40-year-old's presence on the 22-yard cricket strip during the IPL. Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, set to be held in India, Dhoni opened up on his fascination for jersey number 7 and revealed why he sports the same&nbsp;number&nbsp;since his early days in international cricket.

For the unversed, Dhoni sports the No. 7 jersey since he made his debut for Team India. Even in the IPL, the superstar cricketer has donned the same&nbsp;number -- for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS). Thus, the wicketkeeper-batter revealed why he likes to retain&nbsp;the exact&nbsp;jersey number.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/success-is-theirs-failure-is-mine-captain-hardik-pandya-shares-his-philosophy-ahead-of-ipl-2022-463170">Success is theirs, failure is mine: Captain Hardik Pandya shares his philosophy ahead of IPL 2022</a>

Speaking at a CSK&nbsp;event on Wednesday (March 16), the ex-Team India captain Dhoni revealed the "simple reason" behind choosing the specific shirt number.

"A lot of people initially thought that 7 is a lucky number for me and all of that. But I chose the number for a very simple reason. I was born on the 7th of July. So it's the 7th day of the 7th month, that was the reason. Rather than getting to all the different things as to what number is a good number and all, I thought I will use my date of birth as the number," Dhoni said.

"A lot of people said 7 is a neutral number and even if it doesn't work for you, it doesn't really go against you. That also I added to my answer. I am not very superstitious about it, but it's one number that is close to my heart and I have kept it over the years with me," he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/morris-one-ball-was-more-expensive-than-aakash-chopra-responds-to-ramiz-rajas-claims-on-ipl-vs-psl-463158">'Morris' one ball was more expensive than....': Aakash Chopra responds to Ramiz Raja's remark on IPL vs PSL</a>

After leading CSK to their fourth title in the IPL 2021 edition, the defending champions Dhoni-led Chennai side will play the IPL 2022 season-opener versus last year's runners-up Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The Yellow Army have revamped and brought back several of their regular members for the forthcoming season and, thus, will aim to retain their title in the 15th edition of the cash-rich league.

Complete squad of CSK for IPL 2022

Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c &amp; wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

MS Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. Ever since his international retirement, his ardent fans eagerly wait for the 40-year-old's presence on the 22-yard cricket strip during the IPL.

MS Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. Ever since his international retirement, his ardent fans eagerly wait for the 40-year-old's presence on the 22-yard cricket strip during the IPL. Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, set to be held in India, Dhoni opened up on his fascination for jersey number 7 and revealed why he sports the same number since his early days in international cricket. For the unversed, Dhoni sports the No. 7 jersey since he made his debut for Team India. Even in the IPL, the superstar cricketer has donned the same number -- for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS). Thus, the wicketkeeper-batter revealed why he likes to retain the exact jersey number. ALSO READ | Success is theirs, failure is mine: Captain Hardik Pandya shares his philosophy ahead of IPL 2022 Speaking at a CSK event on Wednesday (March 16), the ex-Team India captain Dhoni revealed the "simple reason" behind choosing the specific shirt number. "A lot of people initially thought that 7 is a lucky number for me and all of that. But I chose the number for a very simple reason. I was born on the 7th of July. So it's the 7th day of the 7th month, that was the reason. Rather than getting to all the different things as to what number is a good number and all, I thought I will use my date of birth as the number," Dhoni said. "A lot of people said 7 is a neutral number and even if it doesn't work for you, it doesn't really go against you. That also I added to my answer. I am not very superstitious about it, but it's one number that is close to my heart and I have kept it over the years with me," he added. ALSO READ | 'Morris' one ball was more expensive than....': Aakash Chopra responds to Ramiz Raja's remark on IPL vs PSL After leading CSK to their fourth title in the IPL 2021 edition, the defending champions Dhoni-led Chennai side will play the IPL 2022 season-opener versus last year's runners-up Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The Yellow Army have revamped and brought back several of their regular members for the forthcoming season and, thus, will aim to retain their title in the 15th edition of the cash-rich league. Complete squad of CSK for IPL 2022 Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

Why does MS Dhoni don No. 7 jersey? CSK veteran answers the big question ahead of IPL 2022

The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play the IPL 2022 season-opener versus Shreyas Iyer's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Ahead of the season, CSK had been dealt with a big blow when their most-expensive signing Deepak Chahar got injured during the India-West Indies T20Is at home in late February.

Chahar also missed out on the India-Sri Lanka T20Is and was expected to be out of action for the&nbsp;majority of the upcoming IPL season, to be held in India. Nonetheless, there is a big sigh of relief for the CSK franchise and their ardent fans as Chahar is likely to be available from mid-April.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-ms-dhoni-turns-back-the-clock-goes-bonkers-and-slams-big-sixes-in-csk-nets-before-ipl-2022-460458">Watch: MS Dhoni turns back the clock, goes bonkers and slams big sixes in CSK nets before IPL 2022</a>

As per a report in the&nbsp;Times of India, the 29-year-old Chahar&nbsp;had to undergo surgery to treat a quadricep tear that he had incurred during the WI T20Is. Much to the delight of the CSK loyalists, it now seems that a surgery wouldn't be required&nbsp;and, hence, the fast-bowling all-rounder can return to action&nbsp;from mid-April.

For the unversed, Chahar is currently&nbsp;at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), in Bengaluru, for his 8-week long rehab. The Dhoni-led Chennai team isn't rushing the pacer into action and are closely monitoring his progress.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/big-blow-to-ms-dhonis-csk-as-deepak-chahar-set-to-miss-majority-of-ipl-2022-edition-reports-458194">Big blow to MS Dhoni's CSK as Deepak Chahar set to miss majority of IPL 2022 edition - Reports</a>

In the IPL 2022 mega auction, Chahar created history by becoming CSK's most expensive buy ever, when he was brought back into the franchise for a whopping INR 140 million (INR 14 crore). Thus, he will like to repay the team management's faith with a flurray of good performances on his return.

At present, the CSK squad is involved in a practice camp, being held in Surat, Gujarat.

The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play the IPL 2022 season-opener versus Shreyas Iyer's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play the IPL 2022 season-opener versus Shreyas Iyer's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Ahead of the season, CSK had been dealt with a big blow when their most-expensive signing Deepak Chahar got injured during the India-West Indies T20Is at home in late February. Chahar also missed out on the India-Sri Lanka T20Is and was expected to be out of action for the majority of the upcoming IPL season, to be held in India. Nonetheless, there is a big sigh of relief for the CSK franchise and their ardent fans as Chahar is likely to be available from mid-April. ALSO READ | Watch: MS Dhoni turns back the clock, goes bonkers and slams big sixes in CSK nets before IPL 2022 As per a report in the Times of India, the 29-year-old Chahar had to undergo surgery to treat a quadricep tear that he had incurred during the WI T20Is. Much to the delight of the CSK loyalists, it now seems that a surgery wouldn't be required and, hence, the fast-bowling all-rounder can return to action from mid-April. For the unversed, Chahar is currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), in Bengaluru, for his 8-week long rehab. The Dhoni-led Chennai team isn't rushing the pacer into action and are closely monitoring his progress. ALSO READ | Big blow to MS Dhoni's CSK as Deepak Chahar set to miss majority of IPL 2022 edition - Reports In the IPL 2022 mega auction, Chahar created history by becoming CSK's most expensive buy ever, when he was brought back into the franchise for a whopping INR 140 million (INR 14 crore). Thus, he will like to repay the team management's faith with a flurray of good performances on his return. At present, the CSK squad is involved in a practice camp, being held in Surat, Gujarat.

IPL 2022: Relief for Dhoni & Co.! CSK pacer Deepak Chahar likely to be available from mid-April - Report

India wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant shattered the legendary Kapil Dev's 40-year-old record on Sunday (March 13) as he smashed the fastest fifty by an Indian in Test cricket. Pant notched up his half-century off just 28 balls in the ongoing pink-ball Test against Sri Lanka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Pant went after the Sri Lankan bowling attack and took them to the cleaners as he slammed seven fours and two sixes in his enthralling knock to help India extend their lead. With the help of the half-century from the wicket-keeper batter and Shreyas Iyer, India managed to pst 303/9 (declared) on the board in their second innings to hand Sri Lanka a huge target of 447 runs.

Pant earned praise from all corners after his destructive knock against Sri Lanka and was also lauded by veteran India wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik. Karthik said the left-hander was already on his way towards attaining greatness and stated that he might finish as one of India's greatest wicket-keepers along with the legendary MS Dhoni.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-rahul-dravid-virat-kohli-win-hearts-with-their-gesture-for-suranga-lakmal-during-pink-ball-test-462092">WATCH: Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli win hearts with their gesture for Suranga Lakmal during pink-ball Test</a>

Former India captain MS Dhoni is regarded as one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen in the history of the game. He also holds the record for most dismissals and most runs by an Indian wicket-keeper in Test cricket.&nbsp;

"You have to say that Rishabh Pant is on his way to greatness. I think if he has a full-fledged wicketkeeping career for India, he will end up being one of the greats along with MS Dhoni. These two will stand out as India's greatest wicketkeepers who have played the game," Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-love-his-game-legendary-kapil-dev-heaps-praise-on-ravindra-jadeja-after-his-heroics-against-sri-lanka-462182">&nbsp;'I love his game': Legendary Kapil Dev heaps praise on Jadeja after his heroics against Sri Lanka</a>

Karthik further added that Pant also reminded him of someone like Virender Sehwag, who was known for his ability to take down bowling attacks single-handedly across all formats of the game. Karthik said Pant's natural game is about taking risks and he has been extremely good with it so far.

"Rishabh Pant has the game to take risks and consistently be good at it. Also, he reminds me of Virender Sehwag, in the sense that when the field is up, he has the ability to hit boundaries at ease right from the get-go and that makes him a very special Test player. Test cricket in many ways is a boundary-hitting format for him,"&nbsp;Karthik&nbsp;added.

India wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant shattered the legendary Kapil Dev's 40-year-old record on Sunday (March 13) as he smashed the fastest fifty by an Indian in Test cricket.

India wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant shattered the legendary Kapil Dev's 40-year-old record on Sunday (March 13) as he smashed the fastest fifty by an Indian in Test cricket. Pant notched up his half-century off just 28 balls in the ongoing pink-ball Test against Sri Lanka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Pant went after the Sri Lankan bowling attack and took them to the cleaners as he slammed seven fours and two sixes in his enthralling knock to help India extend their lead. With the help of the half-century from the wicket-keeper batter and Shreyas Iyer, India managed to pst 303/9 (declared) on the board in their second innings to hand Sri Lanka a huge target of 447 runs. Pant earned praise from all corners after his destructive knock against Sri Lanka and was also lauded by veteran India wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik. Karthik said the left-hander was already on his way towards attaining greatness and stated that he might finish as one of India's greatest wicket-keepers along with the legendary MS Dhoni. Also Read: WATCH: Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli win hearts with their gesture for Suranga Lakmal during pink-ball Test Former India captain MS Dhoni is regarded as one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen in the history of the game. He also holds the record for most dismissals and most runs by an Indian wicket-keeper in Test cricket. "You have to say that Rishabh Pant is on his way to greatness. I think if he has a full-fledged wicketkeeping career for India, he will end up being one of the greats along with MS Dhoni. These two will stand out as India's greatest wicketkeepers who have played the game," Karthik said on Cricbuzz. Also Read: 'I love his game': Legendary Kapil Dev heaps praise on Jadeja after his heroics against Sri Lanka Karthik further added that Pant also reminded him of someone like Virender Sehwag, who was known for his ability to take down bowling attacks single-handedly across all formats of the game. Karthik said Pant's natural game is about taking risks and he has been extremely good with it so far. "Rishabh Pant has the game to take risks and consistently be good at it. Also, he reminds me of Virender Sehwag, in the sense that when the field is up, he has the ability to hit boundaries at ease right from the get-go and that makes him a very special Test player. Test cricket in many ways is a boundary-hitting format for him," Karthik added.

Rishabh Pant will end up being one of the greats like MS Dhoni for Team India, says Dinesh Karthik

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has drawn comparisons between Indin skipper Rohit Sharma and the legendary MS Dhoni as he hailed Hitman for being 'cool as cucumber' as a leader. Rohit, who was recently appointed as India's captain across all three formats, has had a fantastic start to his stint as the skipper of the side.

Rohit has led India to back-to-back three T20I series wins against New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka while also winning his first ODI series as full-time captain 3-0 against West Indies. The ongoing two-match Test series between India and Sri Lanka is Rohit's first as the Test captain of the side and India are leading the two-match rubber 1-0 after an emphatic win in the first Test in Mohali.

Lauding Rohit, Pathan said the current Indian skipper has undergone a massive transformation since being snubbed from the Indian team for the 2011 ODI World Cup. Rohit had made his India debut much before the 2011 World Cup but had failed to establish his credentials to make the cut into the World Cup squad.

“Every player goes through that phase in his career when he isn’t able to perform and only left with disappointment. The current team has two such players: Jadeja and Rohit. Jadeja hasn’t looked back since the 2017 Champions Trophy final… and Rohit has changed a lot since the 2011 World Cup snub. There used to be a lot of talk about his talent. But he himself would say that he was much more than just talent," Pathan told Star Sports while speaking about the rise of both Rohit and Ravindra Jadeja.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohlis-test-average-slips-below-50-for-first-time-since-2017-after-poor-show-against-sri-lanka-461947">Virat Kohli's Test average slips below 50 for the first time since 2017 after poor show against Sri Lanka</a>

Ever since the 2011 World Cup snub, Rohit has gone on to become one of the best batters in the world when it comes to white-ball cricket. He is currently one of India's most consistent performers across formats and has also been terrific as a captain.

Pathan compared Rohit with Dhoni, who is known as captain cool for his ability to stay calm under the most pressure situations. Dhoni is the only captain with all three major ICC limited-overs trophies to his name. The former captain led India to memorable triumphs at the 2011 ODI World Cup in 2011, T20 World Cup in 2007 and the Champions Trophy in 2013.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-breaks-kapil-devs-40-year-old-record-with-sensational-fifty-in-pin-ball-test-against-sri-lanka-461919">Rishabh Pant breaks Kapil Dev's 40-year-old record with sensational fifty in pink-ball Test vs&nbsp;Sri Lanka</a>

“He worked hard on his skill-set and the best opportunity came in the 2013 Champions Trophy. He was given the role of opening the innings and that took Rohit’s career to another level. His performance was a notch above and that improved his consistency as well. We talk about Dhoni being Mr Cool but Rohit is cool as a cucumber,” Pathan added.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has drawn comparisons between Indin skipper Rohit Sharma and the legendary MS Dhoni as he hailed Hitman for being 'cool as cucumber' as a leader.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has drawn comparisons between Indin skipper Rohit Sharma and the legendary MS Dhoni as he hailed Hitman for being 'cool as cucumber' as a leader. Rohit, who was recently appointed as India's captain across all three formats, has had a fantastic start to his stint as the skipper of the side. Rohit has led India to back-to-back three T20I series wins against New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka while also winning his first ODI series as full-time captain 3-0 against West Indies. The ongoing two-match Test series between India and Sri Lanka is Rohit's first as the Test captain of the side and India are leading the two-match rubber 1-0 after an emphatic win in the first Test in Mohali. Lauding Rohit, Pathan said the current Indian skipper has undergone a massive transformation since being snubbed from the Indian team for the 2011 ODI World Cup. Rohit had made his India debut much before the 2011 World Cup but had failed to establish his credentials to make the cut into the World Cup squad. “Every player goes through that phase in his career when he isn’t able to perform and only left with disappointment. The current team has two such players: Jadeja and Rohit. Jadeja hasn’t looked back since the 2017 Champions Trophy final… and Rohit has changed a lot since the 2011 World Cup snub. There used to be a lot of talk about his talent. But he himself would say that he was much more than just talent," Pathan told Star Sports while speaking about the rise of both Rohit and Ravindra Jadeja. Also Read: Virat Kohli's Test average slips below 50 for the first time since 2017 after poor show against Sri Lanka Ever since the 2011 World Cup snub, Rohit has gone on to become one of the best batters in the world when it comes to white-ball cricket. He is currently one of India's most consistent performers across formats and has also been terrific as a captain. Pathan compared Rohit with Dhoni, who is known as captain cool for his ability to stay calm under the most pressure situations. Dhoni is the only captain with all three major ICC limited-overs trophies to his name. The former captain led India to memorable triumphs at the 2011 ODI World Cup in 2011, T20 World Cup in 2007 and the Champions Trophy in 2013. Also Read: Rishabh Pant breaks Kapil Dev's 40-year-old record with sensational fifty in pink-ball Test vs Sri Lanka “He worked hard on his skill-set and the best opportunity came in the 2013 Champions Trophy. He was given the role of opening the innings and that took Rohit’s career to another level. His performance was a notch above and that improved his consistency as well. We talk about Dhoni being Mr Cool but Rohit is cool as a cucumber,” Pathan added.

'We talk about MS Dhoni being Mr Cool but..': Irfan Pathan compares Rohit Sharma with former India captain

Faf Du Plessis recalled his initial days at his former side Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after he was on Saturday appointed as the new captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Du Plessis, who has never led an IPL team in the past, will be replacing Virat Kohli as RCB's new captain in IPL 2022.

Du Plessis might not have led an IPL team but is one of the most experienced cricketers in the league and has won the title twice as a player with CSK. He has also led South Africa in the past and has significant experience as a leader in international cricket. Du Plessis spent nine seasons with CSK where he played&nbsp;under the legendary MS Dhoni.

Du Plessis admitted he has a quite similar captaincy style to Dhoni, who is known for his ability to stay calm under pressure. However, the former CSK batter said when he first arrived at the franchise he found Dhoni's style of leading the side complete opposite of what he had thought captaincy would look like.

“The crazy thing is, when I started over in Chennai, I had this idea of what captaincy looks like. And MS was the complete opposite of what I thought it would have looked like! Because my culture was South African, right? So I came to this environment and I was like, ‘this guy was completely different than I thought what it should be!’” Faf said in an interview for RCB.

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&nbsp;

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mike-hesson-explains-why-rcb-picked-faf-du-plessis-over-maxwell-and-karthik-to-lead-the-side-in-ipl-2022-461839">&nbsp;Hesson explains why RCB picked Du Plessis over Maxwell and Karthik to lead the side in IPL 2022</a>

Du Plessis, who played an instrumental role in CSK's fourth IPL title triumph last year with a staggering 633 runs in the season, said he has been privileged to have played under Dhoni and learnt from one of the best captains around. The former South Africa skipper said he would like to utilise his experience and learnings but not try to be like Dhoni or Kohli.

“What it taught me was that there were different styles, but it is important that you need to be (have) your own style. Because that’s the thing that always comes through when the pressure is on,” said the RCB captain.

“So, I can’t try to be Virat Kohli because I’m not Virat Kohli. I can’t try to be MS Dhoni. But there are things I’ve learned that helped me grow my leadership style and mature. So, I’m grateful for that journey,” he added.

Faf Du Plessis recalled his initial days at his former side Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after he was on Saturday appointed as the new captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Faf Du Plessis recalled his initial days at his former side Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after he was on Saturday appointed as the new captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Du Plessis, who has never led an IPL team in the past, will be replacing Virat Kohli as RCB's new captain in IPL 2022. Du Plessis might not have led an IPL team but is one of the most experienced cricketers in the league and has won the title twice as a player with CSK. He has also led South Africa in the past and has significant experience as a leader in international cricket. Du Plessis spent nine seasons with CSK where he played under the legendary MS Dhoni. Du Plessis admitted he has a quite similar captaincy style to Dhoni, who is known for his ability to stay calm under pressure. However, the former CSK batter said when he first arrived at the franchise he found Dhoni's style of leading the side complete opposite of what he had thought captaincy would look like. “The crazy thing is, when I started over in Chennai, I had this idea of what captaincy looks like. And MS was the complete opposite of what I thought it would have looked like! Because my culture was South African, right? So I came to this environment and I was like, ‘this guy was completely different than I thought what it should be!’” Faf said in an interview for RCB. × Also Read: Hesson explains why RCB picked Du Plessis over Maxwell and Karthik to lead the side in IPL 2022 Du Plessis, who played an instrumental role in CSK's fourth IPL title triumph last year with a staggering 633 runs in the season, said he has been privileged to have played under Dhoni and learnt from one of the best captains around. The former South Africa skipper said he would like to utilise his experience and learnings but not try to be like Dhoni or Kohli. “What it taught me was that there were different styles, but it is important that you need to be (have) your own style. Because that’s the thing that always comes through when the pressure is on,” said the RCB captain. “So, I can’t try to be Virat Kohli because I’m not Virat Kohli. I can’t try to be MS Dhoni. But there are things I’ve learned that helped me grow my leadership style and mature. So, I’m grateful for that journey,” he added.

MS Dhoni was completely opposite of what I thought captaincy would have looked like: Faf du Plessis

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have already begun their preparations for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the MS Dhoni-led side gears up to defend their title. CSK defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in the final last year to lift their fourth IPL trophy, completing a remarkable comeback having missed out on a spot in the playoffs in IPL 2020.

While not the entire squad has joined CSK's ongoing camp in Ahmedabad, several stars including the likes of captain MS Dhoni, veteran batter Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu and others have started training with the rest of their teammates ahead of the new season. The others are expected to join soon as the start of the season gets closer.

Chennai Super Kings have been sharing several videos and photos of their players training in the camp ahead of the new season. On Friday, CSK shared a video clip of a stump-cam recording of Dhoni and Uthappa's batting session. In the video, the likes of Dhoni, Uthappa and C Hari Nishanth can be seen batting.

The glorious video of the CSK tri playing some brilliant shots in the nets went viral on social media. Check out the video:

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GRUND ZER- The best view ever! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> <a href="https://t.co/aoBB9TUoKO">pic.twitter.com/aoBB9TUoKO</a>
— Chennai Super Kings - Mask Pdu Whistle Pdu! (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/1502293441958789123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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CSK will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The entire league stage of IPL 2022 is all set to be played across four venues in Mumbai and Pune while the playoffs will be held in Ahmedabad.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/5-indian-players-who-can-replace-deepak-chahar-for-csk-if-he-is-ruled-out-of-ipl-2022-461048">5 Indian players who can replace Deepak Chahar for CSK if he is ruled out of IPL 2022</a>

CSK will be looking to successfully defend their title after roping in some quality players at the IPL 2022 mega auction. While Dhoni &amp; Co. managed to get back some of their old players like Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar and Ambati Rayudu among others, CSK have also added a number of talented youngsters to their ranks.

However, CSK have been dealt with a huge blow ahead of the new season as their most expensive buy at the mega auction - pacer Deepak Chahar is likely to miss the first couple of weeks of IPL 2022 due to an injury. In his absence, CSK will hope for a good show from the likes of Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube and Rajvardhan Hangargekar among others.

&nbsp;

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have already begun their preparations for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the MS Dhoni-led side gears up to defend their title.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have already begun their preparations for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the MS Dhoni-led side gears up to defend their title. CSK defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in the final last year to lift their fourth IPL trophy, completing a remarkable comeback having missed out on a spot in the playoffs in IPL 2020. While not the entire squad has joined CSK's ongoing camp in Ahmedabad, several stars including the likes of captain MS Dhoni, veteran batter Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu and others have started training with the rest of their teammates ahead of the new season. The others are expected to join soon as the start of the season gets closer. Chennai Super Kings have been sharing several videos and photos of their players training in the camp ahead of the new season. On Friday, CSK shared a video clip of a stump-cam recording of Dhoni and Uthappa's batting session. In the video, the likes of Dhoni, Uthappa and C Hari Nishanth can be seen batting. The glorious video of the CSK tri playing some brilliant shots in the nets went viral on social media. Check out the video: GRUND ZER- The best view ever! #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/aoBB9TUoKO — Chennai Super Kings - Mask Pdu Whistle Pdu! (@ChennaiIPL) March 11, 2022 × CSK will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The entire league stage of IPL 2022 is all set to be played across four venues in Mumbai and Pune while the playoffs will be held in Ahmedabad. Also Read: 5 Indian players who can replace Deepak Chahar for CSK if he is ruled out of IPL 2022 CSK will be looking to successfully defend their title after roping in some quality players at the IPL 2022 mega auction. While Dhoni & Co. managed to get back some of their old players like Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar and Ambati Rayudu among others, CSK have also added a number of talented youngsters to their ranks. However, CSK have been dealt with a huge blow ahead of the new season as their most expensive buy at the mega auction - pacer Deepak Chahar is likely to miss the first couple of weeks of IPL 2022 due to an injury. In his absence, CSK will hope for a good show from the likes of Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube and Rajvardhan Hangargekar among others.

CSK share stump cam video of MS Dhoni and Robin Uthappa's batting session ahead of IPL 2022 - WATCH

MS Dhoni remains a big name in international cricket. Despite his retirement from the highest level, on August 15 2020, the 40-year-old remains an extremely popular for his overall contribution to Indian cricket. Dhoni signed off from international cricket, with 17,266 runs, 108 fifties, 16 centuries, 634 catches, 195 stumpings, 359 sixes and also leading India to all major ICC titles.

Dhoni became a household name soon after he broke into the scene at the highest level in 2004. In his early years, he was a fearless striker of the ball who also played some audacious and unorthodox shots from time to time. During the 2006 Champions Trophy, Dhoni made a vital 23-ball 28 in Rahul Dravid &amp; Co.'s face-off versus Ricky Ponting's Australia, in Mohali, but made heads turn with a stunning reverse sweep off Nathan Bracken in India's final over.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-virat-kohli-ms-dhoni-to-hardik-pandya-top-5-cricketing-superstars-with-most-instagram-followers-460635">From Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni to Hardik Pandya: Top 5 cricketing superstars with most Instagram followers</a>

With wickets tumbling and&nbsp;India&nbsp;aiming for over a 260-run score, Dhoni was on strike in the final over and&nbsp;targetted some big shots. While he fell on the last ball of the Indian innings, with the score 249-8, he played a eye-catching reverse sweep (or pulled off an AB de Villiers). Here's the video:

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ABD who? Hold Dhoni's Beer <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CricketTwitter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CricketTwitter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qbz7Cy6nOK">pic.twitter.com/Qbz7Cy6nOK</a>
— SHIVAM (@SMUDGE4549) <a href="https://twitter.com/SMUDGE4549/status/1501974503248711691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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While it can be termed as an AB de Villiers-esque stroke in the current era, back then the South African had just announced his arrival in international circuit. He hadn't even scored an ODI century when Dhoni pulled off a miraculous stroke against Bracken.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/you-have-to-be-special-maybe-i-would-have-never-played-for-india-if-i-was-an-indian-ab-de-villiers-451562">You have to be special, maybe I would have never played for India if I was an Indian: AB de Villiers</a>

Talking about the India-Aus face-off, Dravid-led side's 249/8 was not much of a challenge for the Aussies as the Men in Yellow chased down the score with six wickets and 26 balls to spare. Australia later faced West Indies in the summit clash and won the title without dropping much sweat in the finale (by 8 wickets).

MS Dhoni remains a big name in international cricket. Despite his retirement from the highest level, on August 15 2020, the 40-year-old remains an extremely popular for his overall contribution to Indian cricket.

MS Dhoni remains a big name in international cricket. Despite his retirement from the highest level, on August 15 2020, the 40-year-old remains an extremely popular for his overall contribution to Indian cricket. Dhoni signed off from international cricket, with 17,266 runs, 108 fifties, 16 centuries, 634 catches, 195 stumpings, 359 sixes and also leading India to all major ICC titles. Dhoni became a household name soon after he broke into the scene at the highest level in 2004. In his early years, he was a fearless striker of the ball who also played some audacious and unorthodox shots from time to time. During the 2006 Champions Trophy, Dhoni made a vital 23-ball 28 in Rahul Dravid & Co.'s face-off versus Ricky Ponting's Australia, in Mohali, but made heads turn with a stunning reverse sweep off Nathan Bracken in India's final over. ALSO READ | From Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni to Hardik Pandya: Top 5 cricketing superstars with most Instagram followers With wickets tumbling and India aiming for over a 260-run score, Dhoni was on strike in the final over and targetted some big shots. While he fell on the last ball of the Indian innings, with the score 249-8, he played a eye-catching reverse sweep (or pulled off an AB de Villiers). Here's the video: ABD who? Hold Dhoni's Beer #CricketTwitter #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/Qbz7Cy6nOK — SHIVAM (@SMUDGE4549) March 10, 2022 × While it can be termed as an AB de Villiers-esque stroke in the current era, back then the South African had just announced his arrival in international circuit. He hadn't even scored an ODI century when Dhoni pulled off a miraculous stroke against Bracken. ALSO READ | You have to be special, maybe I would have never played for India if I was an Indian: AB de Villiers Talking about the India-Aus face-off, Dravid-led side's 249/8 was not much of a challenge for the Aussies as the Men in Yellow chased down the score with six wickets and 26 balls to spare. Australia later faced West Indies in the summit clash and won the title without dropping much sweat in the finale (by 8 wickets).

WATCH: When Dhoni pulled off an AB de Villiers-esque reverse sweep during India's 2006 CT tie vs AUS

Rohit Sharma is set to achieve a big milestone when he comes out for the coin toss in India's second and final Test versus Sri Lanka at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on March 12 (Saturday). Rohit will join Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar and five other Indians in an elite list at the start of the series decider against the Islanders.

So far, eight Indians have played 400, or more, internationals. The list is spearheaded by Master Blaster Tendulkar and comprises Dhoni, current head coach Rahul Dravid, Kohli, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh and the likes. Rohit will, thus, become the 9th Indian to enter the list.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-on-cusp-of-surpassing-mark-waugh-gary-sobers-in-elite-list-as-india-take-on-sri-lanka-in-2nd-test-460878">Virat Kohli on cusp of surpassing Mark Waugh, Gary Sobers in elite list as India take on Sri Lanka in 2nd Test</a>

Most matches in a career

Sachin Tendulkar - 664 (INDIA) 
MS Dhoni - 538 (ASIA/INDIA) 
Rahul Dravid - 509 (ASIA/INDIA/ICC) 
Virat Kohli - 457* (INDIA) 
Md Azharuddin - 433 (INDIA) 
Sourav Ganguly - 424 (ASIA/INDIA) 
Anil Kumble - 403 (ASIA/INDIA) 
Yuvraj Singh - 402 (ASIA/INDIA) 
Rohit Sharma - 399* (INDIA)

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/throwback-when-dravid-proved-arun-lals-prediction-wrong-by-hitting-a-huge-six-in-indo-pak-test-watch-460257">THROWBACK: When Dravid proved Arun Lal's prediction wrong by hitting a huge six in Indo-Pak Test - WATCH</a>

For the unversed, Rohit has featured in 44 Tests, 230 ODIs and 125 T20Is for Team India. In his 45th Test, the 34-year-old will enter another elusive list in his illustrious career. Making his international debut in 2007, the right-hander's career took an emphatic turn when he was promoted as an opener in the white-ball formats. Since then, he hasn't looked behind and has also been India's best performer across formats in the last few years (also turning things around in style in the red-ball format since late 2019).&nbsp;

Coming back to the India-SL series, Rohit &amp; Co. won the first Test by an innings and 222 runs. They will aim for a clean sweep in the second and final Test, which will be a pink-ball contest in Bengaluru.

Rohit Sharma is set to achieve a big milestone when he comes out for the coin toss in India's second and final Test versus Sri Lanka at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on March 12 (Saturday).

Rohit Sharma is set to achieve a big milestone when he comes out for the coin toss in India's second and final Test versus Sri Lanka at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on March 12 (Saturday). Rohit will join Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar and five other Indians in an elite list at the start of the series decider against the Islanders. So far, eight Indians have played 400, or more, internationals. The list is spearheaded by Master Blaster Tendulkar and comprises Dhoni, current head coach Rahul Dravid, Kohli, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh and the likes. Rohit will, thus, become the 9th Indian to enter the list. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli on cusp of surpassing Mark Waugh, Gary Sobers in elite list as India take on Sri Lanka in 2nd Test Most matches in a career Sachin Tendulkar - 664 (INDIA) MS Dhoni - 538 (ASIA/INDIA) Rahul Dravid - 509 (ASIA/INDIA/ICC) Virat Kohli - 457* (INDIA) Md Azharuddin - 433 (INDIA) Sourav Ganguly - 424 (ASIA/INDIA) Anil Kumble - 403 (ASIA/INDIA) Yuvraj Singh - 402 (ASIA/INDIA) Rohit Sharma - 399* (INDIA) ALSO READ | THROWBACK: When Dravid proved Arun Lal's prediction wrong by hitting a huge six in Indo-Pak Test - WATCH For the unversed, Rohit has featured in 44 Tests, 230 ODIs and 125 T20Is for Team India. In his 45th Test, the 34-year-old will enter another elusive list in his illustrious career. Making his international debut in 2007, the right-hander's career took an emphatic turn when he was promoted as an opener in the white-ball formats. Since then, he hasn't looked behind and has also been India's best performer across formats in the last few years (also turning things around in style in the red-ball format since late 2019). Coming back to the India-SL series, Rohit & Co. won the first Test by an innings and 222 runs. They will aim for a clean sweep in the second and final Test, which will be a pink-ball contest in Bengaluru.

Rohit Sharma to join Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni in elite list in India's pink-ball Test vs Sri Lanka

Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Gautam Gambhir has named one Indian star who used to give him sleepless nights in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gambhir is one of the most successful leaders in the history of IPL with two trophies to his name as the captain of KKR.

Gambhir led KKR to their maiden IPL triumph in 2012 before inspiring them to another trophy in 2014. Gambhir's KKR had defeated MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2012 final to lift their first title before beating Punjab Kings in the final of the 2014 edition to win their second IPL crown.

As a captain, Gambhir came up against some of the best skippers in the IPL in the form of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma among others. Recalling his captaincy stint for KKR, Gambhir revealed Rohit was one captain who used to give him 'sleepless nights'.

Gambhir hailed Rohit as the most successful cricketer in the history of IPL and lauded him for being a terrific leader. Rohit is the most successful captain in the history of IPL with five titles to his name for his side Mumbai Indians.&nbsp;

"As captain, Rohit Sharma is the only player who gave me sleepless nights. Neither Chris Gayle nor AB de Villiers nor anyone else, only Rohit Sharma. He is the player who gave me sleepless nights," said Gambhir on Star Sports.

There is no more successful cricketer in the history of Indian Premier League (IPL) than Rohit Sharma as captain," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-relief-for-dhoni-co-csk-pacer-deepak-chahar-likely-to-be-available-from-mid-april-report-460472">IPL 2022: Relief for Dhoni &amp; Co.! Deepak Chahar likely to be available from mid-April - Report</a>

Gautam Gambhir returns to IPL

Gambhir has made a comeback in the Indian Premier League as a mentor this time around. Having played his last season in 2018, Gambhir had opted for commentary after retiring from cricket. However, the former India opener has now been roped in as a mentor by the Lucknow Super Giants.

Gambhir will be mentoring the KL Rahul-led side in their debut season in the league. The former KKR skipper was also part of the Lucknow think tank at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month.

&nbsp;

Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Gautam Gambhir has named one Indian star who used to give him sleepless nights in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gambhir is one of the most successful leaders in the history of IPL with two trophies to his name as the captain of KKR.

Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Gautam Gambhir has named one Indian star who used to give him sleepless nights in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gambhir is one of the most successful leaders in the history of IPL with two trophies to his name as the captain of KKR. Gambhir led KKR to their maiden IPL triumph in 2012 before inspiring them to another trophy in 2014. Gambhir's KKR had defeated MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2012 final to lift their first title before beating Punjab Kings in the final of the 2014 edition to win their second IPL crown. As a captain, Gambhir came up against some of the best skippers in the IPL in the form of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma among others. Recalling his captaincy stint for KKR, Gambhir revealed Rohit was one captain who used to give him 'sleepless nights'. Gambhir hailed Rohit as the most successful cricketer in the history of IPL and lauded him for being a terrific leader. Rohit is the most successful captain in the history of IPL with five titles to his name for his side Mumbai Indians. "As captain, Rohit Sharma is the only player who gave me sleepless nights. Neither Chris Gayle nor AB de Villiers nor anyone else, only Rohit Sharma. He is the player who gave me sleepless nights," said Gambhir on Star Sports. There is no more successful cricketer in the history of Indian Premier League (IPL) than Rohit Sharma as captain," he added. Also Read: IPL 2022: Relief for Dhoni & Co.! Deepak Chahar likely to be available from mid-April - Report Gautam Gambhir returns to IPL Gambhir has made a comeback in the Indian Premier League as a mentor this time around. Having played his last season in 2018, Gambhir had opted for commentary after retiring from cricket. However, the former India opener has now been roped in as a mentor by the Lucknow Super Giants. Gambhir will be mentoring the KL Rahul-led side in their debut season in the league. The former KKR skipper was also part of the Lucknow think tank at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month.

Not Dhoni or Kohli! Gautam Gambhir names player who used to give him 'sleepless nights' in IPL

MS Dhoni remains the darling of the masses. Despite retiring from international cricket on August 15 2020 -- after a year-long sabbatical -- the 40-year-old remains a big name in world cricket and his fan following hasn't died down by any means.

Dhoni became a household name during his illustrious international career, gaining popularity due to his power-hitting, finishing skills and leading India to all major ICC titles during his captaincy tenure. Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, in India, the veteran was seen hitting some big shots in the practice camp of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), currently being held in Surat, Gujarat.

The video of Dhoni practicing his big hits have gone viral in no time on social media platforms. Here's the clip:

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-skipper-ms-dhoni-flaunts-his-footvolley-skills-in-practice-session-ahead-of-ipl-2022-opener-watch-460135">CSK skipper MS Dhoni flaunts his footvolley skills in practice session ahead of IPL 2022 opener - WATCH</a>

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That last six from Mahi 😍🔥 <a href="https://t.co/j9puE06Lmp">pic.twitter.com/j9puE06Lmp</a>
— Sports Hustle (@SportsHustle3) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsHustle3/status/1501126700008361991?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-complete-schedule-announced-ms-dhonis-csk-to-take-on-kkr-in-season-opener-459595">IPL 2022 complete schedule announced: MS Dhoni's CSK to take on KKR in season-opener</a>

In IPL 2021, Dhoni did lead the Yellow Army to their fourth title but had an ordinary run with the bat, amassing 114 runs at a strike-rate of 106.54, barring his match-finishing cameo in Qualifier 1 versus Delhi Capitals (DC). Thus, the former Indian captain will be eager to turn the tides this time around with the willow in hand.

CSK, the defending champions, will commence their campaign by locking horns with Shreyas Iyer's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2022's opener on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.&nbsp;

Will Dhoni shine with the bat for CSK in the forthcoming IPL season? Will the franchise manage to defend their title? Only time will tell...

MS Dhoni remains the darling of the masses. Despite retiring from international cricket on August 15 2020 -- after a year-long sabbatical -- the 40-year-old remains a big name in world cricket and his fan following hasn't died down by any means.

MS Dhoni remains the darling of the masses. Despite retiring from international cricket on August 15 2020 -- after a year-long sabbatical -- the 40-year-old remains a big name in world cricket and his fan following hasn't died down by any means. Dhoni became a household name during his illustrious international career, gaining popularity due to his power-hitting, finishing skills and leading India to all major ICC titles during his captaincy tenure. Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, in India, the veteran was seen hitting some big shots in the practice camp of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), currently being held in Surat, Gujarat. The video of Dhoni practicing his big hits have gone viral in no time on social media platforms. Here's the clip: ALSO READ | CSK skipper MS Dhoni flaunts his footvolley skills in practice session ahead of IPL 2022 opener - WATCH That last six from Mahi 😍🔥 pic.twitter.com/j9puE06Lmp — Sports Hustle (@SportsHustle3) March 8, 2022 × ALSO READ | IPL 2022 complete schedule announced: MS Dhoni's CSK to take on KKR in season-opener In IPL 2021, Dhoni did lead the Yellow Army to their fourth title but had an ordinary run with the bat, amassing 114 runs at a strike-rate of 106.54, barring his match-finishing cameo in Qualifier 1 versus Delhi Capitals (DC). Thus, the former Indian captain will be eager to turn the tides this time around with the willow in hand. CSK, the defending champions, will commence their campaign by locking horns with Shreyas Iyer's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2022's opener on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Will Dhoni shine with the bat for CSK in the forthcoming IPL season? Will the franchise manage to defend their title? Only time will tell...

Watch: MS Dhoni turns back the clock, goes bonkers and slams big sixes in CSK nets before IPL 2022

From Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni to Hardik Pandya: Top 5 cricketing superstars with most Instagram followers

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 edition is around the corner. The complete schedule was announced by the BCCI on Sunday (March 06) as the excitement is building for the upcoming season. Ahead of the season-opener, the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are having their practice session in Surat, Gujarat.

In a recently-released practice session video from the Yellow Army's camp, skipper Dhoni made heads turn by showcasing his footvolley skills. In the clip shared by the official Twitter handle of CSK, the 40-year-old superstar cricketer was seen having fun with his team members as they engaged in a footvolley segment while preparing for the forthcoming season.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-complete-schedule-announced-ms-dhonis-csk-to-take-on-kkr-in-season-opener-459595">IPL 2022 complete schedule announced: MS Dhoni's CSK to take on KKR in season-opener</a>

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Namma Special 🦁 Footvolley segment is B⚽CK! 🔁<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> <a href="https://t.co/pXxIe994sG">pic.twitter.com/pXxIe994sG</a>
— Chennai Super Kings - Mask P😷du Whistle P🥳du! (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/1500867862453719044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chennai-super-kings-complete-squad-for-ipl-2022-deepak-chahar-most-expensive-in-raina-less-line-up-453033">Chennai Super Kings complete squad for IPL 2022: Deepak Chahar most expensive in Raina-less line-up</a>

For the unversed, the Dhoni-led CSK franchise will begin their title-defence in IPL 2022 opening fixture as they will lock horns with Shreyas Iyer's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic&nbsp;Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 26.

Under Dhoni, CSK had won the IPL 2021 season, their fourth-title overall, by beating KKR in the summit clash by 27 runs. This time around, they have strengthened their squad with new additions in the form of Devon Conway, Adam Milne, Chris Jordan, Shivam Dube, etc.

Complete squad for Dhoni-led CSK for IPL 2022:

Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c &amp; wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 edition is around the corner. The complete schedule was announced by the BCCI on Sunday (March 06) as the excitement is building for the upcoming season.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 edition is around the corner. The complete schedule was announced by the BCCI on Sunday (March 06) as the excitement is building for the upcoming season. Ahead of the season-opener, the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are having their practice session in Surat, Gujarat. In a recently-released practice session video from the Yellow Army's camp, skipper Dhoni made heads turn by showcasing his footvolley skills. In the clip shared by the official Twitter handle of CSK, the 40-year-old superstar cricketer was seen having fun with his team members as they engaged in a footvolley segment while preparing for the forthcoming season. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 complete schedule announced: MS Dhoni's CSK to take on KKR in season-opener Namma Special 🦁 Footvolley segment is B⚽CK! 🔁#WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/pXxIe994sG — Chennai Super Kings - Mask P😷du Whistle P🥳du! (@ChennaiIPL) March 7, 2022 × ALSO READ | Chennai Super Kings complete squad for IPL 2022: Deepak Chahar most expensive in Raina-less line-up For the unversed, the Dhoni-led CSK franchise will begin their title-defence in IPL 2022 opening fixture as they will lock horns with Shreyas Iyer's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 26. Under Dhoni, CSK had won the IPL 2021 season, their fourth-title overall, by beating KKR in the summit clash by 27 runs. This time around, they have strengthened their squad with new additions in the form of Devon Conway, Adam Milne, Chris Jordan, Shivam Dube, etc. Complete squad for Dhoni-led CSK for IPL 2022: Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

CSK skipper MS Dhoni flaunts his footvolley skills in practice session ahead of IPL 2022 opener - WATCH

Ireland pacer Josh Little has been roped in by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a net bowler for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

"Congrats to Josh Little who is heading off on a development opportunity with the Chennai Super Kings in the early stages of the upcoming IPL. The experience as a net bowler for CSK should be fantastic," Cricket Ireland tweeted.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday had announced the schedule for IPL 2022.

A total number of 70 league matches and 4 Playoff games will be played in the duration of 65 days.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-skipper-ms-dhoni-flaunts-his-footvolley-skills-in-practice-session-ahead-of-ipl-2022-opener-watch-460135">CSK skipper MS Dhoni flaunts his footvolley skills in practice session ahead of IPL 2022 opener - WATCH</a>

The 15th season will start on March 26 at the Wankhede stadium with a blockbuster clash between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.

On March 27, the league will stage its first double-header starting off with a Day game at Brabourne where the Delhi Capitals will square off against Mumbai Indians.

The DY Patil Stadium will host the clash between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at night.

There will be 12 doubleheaders in total with the first match starting at 3:30 PM IST. All evening matches will start at 7:30 PM IST.

The final game of the league stage will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings on May 22 at the Wankhede Stadium.

The schedule for the Playoffs and the IPL 2022 final to be played on May 29 will be announced later.

&nbsp;ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/daniel-vettori-gives-his-verdict-on-whether-virat-kohli-will-return-to-rcb-captaincy-in-ipl-2022-459951">Daniel Vettori gives his verdict on whether Virat Kohli will return to RCB captaincy in IPL 2022</a>

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad: MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Bravo, Robin Uthappa, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Maheesh Theekshana, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Simarjeet Singh, Devon Conway, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Subhranshu Senapati, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki, C Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Chris Jordan, K Bhagath Varma.

Ireland pacer Josh Little has been roped in by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a net bowler for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. "Congrats to Josh Little who is heading off on a development opportunity with the Chennai Super Kings in the early stages of the upcoming IPL.

Ireland pacer Josh Little has been roped in by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a net bowler for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. "Congrats to Josh Little who is heading off on a development opportunity with the Chennai Super Kings in the early stages of the upcoming IPL. The experience as a net bowler for CSK should be fantastic," Cricket Ireland tweeted. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday had announced the schedule for IPL 2022. A total number of 70 league matches and 4 Playoff games will be played in the duration of 65 days. ALSO READ: CSK skipper MS Dhoni flaunts his footvolley skills in practice session ahead of IPL 2022 opener - WATCH The 15th season will start on March 26 at the Wankhede stadium with a blockbuster clash between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. On March 27, the league will stage its first double-header starting off with a Day game at Brabourne where the Delhi Capitals will square off against Mumbai Indians. The DY Patil Stadium will host the clash between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at night. There will be 12 doubleheaders in total with the first match starting at 3:30 PM IST. All evening matches will start at 7:30 PM IST. The final game of the league stage will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings on May 22 at the Wankhede Stadium. The schedule for the Playoffs and the IPL 2022 final to be played on May 29 will be announced later. ALSO READ: Daniel Vettori gives his verdict on whether Virat Kohli will return to RCB captaincy in IPL 2022 Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad: MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Bravo, Robin Uthappa, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Maheesh Theekshana, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Simarjeet Singh, Devon Conway, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Subhranshu Senapati, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki, C Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Chris Jordan, K Bhagath Varma.

IPL 2022: MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings rope in Ireland pacer Josh Little as net bowler

India wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant missed out on his fifth Test hundred as he was dismissed for 96 off 97 balls during India's first innings on Day 1 of the ongoing first Test between India and Sri Lanka at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Friday. Pant&nbsp;looked in great touch and was smacking the Sri Lankan spinners all around the park before falling short of a well-deserved ton by just 4 runs.

The left-hander came out to bat at number five for India when the hosts were 170/3 after Virat Kohli's dismissal for 45 off 76 deliveries. India lost Hanuma Vihari's wicket too soon after Pant's arrival as they were left reeling on 175/4 before the left-hander combined with Shreyas Iyer (27) to add 53 runs for the fifth wicket.

Pant went on to notch up his half-century after Iyer's departure and added another crucial stand of 104 runs with Ravindra Jadeja (45 not out) for the sixth wicket. He shifted gears after reaching his fifty and raced towards his hundred by smashing two sixes and two fours in the 76th over from Lasith Embuldeniya.

Pant looked set to reach his hundred comfortably, however, he was dismissed by Suranga Lakmal on 96. Pant has now been dismissed in the nervous 90s on five occasions in Test cricket and has equalled MS Dhoni's unwanted record. Dhoni and Pant are two Indian wicket-keeper batters with most dismissals in the nervous 90s in Test cricket.

While Dhoni scored six centuries in Test cricket, Pant has already slammed four hundreds in the longest format and is likely to finish with many more centuries in his career. He has been one of India's best performers with the bat in Test cricket for the last couple of years.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-am-not-too-worried-about-milestones-says-virat-kohli-after-big-scores-continue-to-evade-him-458977">I am not too worried about milestones, says Virat Kohli after big scores continue to evade him</a>

With the help of his 96 and crucial knocks from the likes of Vihari (58), Kohli (45) and Jadeja (45*), India finished with a strong total of 357 runs on the board on Day 1 of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Mohali. India will be looking to breach the 400-run mark on Day 2 of the Test match on Saturday.

India wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant missed out on his fifth Test hundred as he was dismissed for 96 off 97 balls during India's first innings on Day 1 of the ongoing first Test between India and Sri Lanka at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Friday.

India wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant missed out on his fifth Test hundred as he was dismissed for 96 off 97 balls during India's first innings on Day 1 of the ongoing first Test between India and Sri Lanka at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Friday. Pant looked in great touch and was smacking the Sri Lankan spinners all around the park before falling short of a well-deserved ton by just 4 runs. The left-hander came out to bat at number five for India when the hosts were 170/3 after Virat Kohli's dismissal for 45 off 76 deliveries. India lost Hanuma Vihari's wicket too soon after Pant's arrival as they were left reeling on 175/4 before the left-hander combined with Shreyas Iyer (27) to add 53 runs for the fifth wicket. Pant went on to notch up his half-century after Iyer's departure and added another crucial stand of 104 runs with Ravindra Jadeja (45 not out) for the sixth wicket. He shifted gears after reaching his fifty and raced towards his hundred by smashing two sixes and two fours in the 76th over from Lasith Embuldeniya. Pant looked set to reach his hundred comfortably, however, he was dismissed by Suranga Lakmal on 96. Pant has now been dismissed in the nervous 90s on five occasions in Test cricket and has equalled MS Dhoni's unwanted record. Dhoni and Pant are two Indian wicket-keeper batters with most dismissals in the nervous 90s in Test cricket. While Dhoni scored six centuries in Test cricket, Pant has already slammed four hundreds in the longest format and is likely to finish with many more centuries in his career. He has been one of India's best performers with the bat in Test cricket for the last couple of years. Also Read: I am not too worried about milestones, says Virat Kohli after big scores continue to evade him With the help of his 96 and crucial knocks from the likes of Vihari (58), Kohli (45) and Jadeja (45*), India finished with a strong total of 357 runs on the board on Day 1 of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Mohali. India will be looking to breach the 400-run mark on Day 2 of the Test match on Saturday.

Rishabh Pant equals MS Dhoni's unwanted record after missing out on 5th Test hundred in 1st Test vs SL

Rohit Sharma started his Test captaincy tenure as India locked horns with Sri Lanka in the two-match series opener at the IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on Friday (March 04). The 34-year-old was appointed as the full-time Indian skipper after the national selectors named him as Virat Kohli's successor in whites last month.&nbsp;

With the commencement of his Test captaincy tenure, Rohit became the 35th Indian cricketer to lead the men's side in the purest format. He joined the elite list of legendary captains -- comprising Kohli, MS Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Md Azharuddin, Ajit Wadekar, MK Pataudi, Sunil Gavaskar, etc. -- with his Test captaincy debut.

Talking about the same at the coin toss, Rohit said, "It is a huge honour to be captaining India and be part of the list. It is something I never dreamt of." Hitman won the toss in his historic Test match as India opted to bat first versus the Dimuth Karunaratne-led Islanders.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kohli-adds-another-feather-in-illustrious-hat-during-100th-test-becomes-6th-indian-to-enter-8000-run-club-458868">Kohli adds another feather in illustrious hat during 100th Test, becomes 6th Indian to enter 8,000-run club</a>

After a good start, Rohit fell for 29 on Day 1 of the series opener in Mohali. His opening partner Mayank Agarwal (33) also followed suit soon after his dismissal as India have crossed the 250-run mark with the loss of five wickets and will look to take the score past the 350-run mark.

The first Test is also Kohli's 100th appearance in whites. On his special Test, the 33-year-old returned for a 76-ball 45 and also completed 8,000 runs in the format; sixth Indian to do so.

Rohit Sharma started his Test captaincy tenure as India locked horns with Sri Lanka in the two-match series opener at the IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on Friday (March 04).

Rohit Sharma started his Test captaincy tenure as India locked horns with Sri Lanka in the two-match series opener at the IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on Friday (March 04). The 34-year-old was appointed as the full-time Indian skipper after the national selectors named him as Virat Kohli's successor in whites last month. With the commencement of his Test captaincy tenure, Rohit became the 35th Indian cricketer to lead the men's side in the purest format. He joined the elite list of legendary captains -- comprising Kohli, MS Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Md Azharuddin, Ajit Wadekar, MK Pataudi, Sunil Gavaskar, etc. -- with his Test captaincy debut. Talking about the same at the coin toss, Rohit said, "It is a huge honour to be captaining India and be part of the list. It is something I never dreamt of." Hitman won the toss in his historic Test match as India opted to bat first versus the Dimuth Karunaratne-led Islanders. ALSO READ | Kohli adds another feather in illustrious hat during 100th Test, becomes 6th Indian to enter 8,000-run club After a good start, Rohit fell for 29 on Day 1 of the series opener in Mohali. His opening partner Mayank Agarwal (33) also followed suit soon after his dismissal as India have crossed the 250-run mark with the loss of five wickets and will look to take the score past the 350-run mark. The first Test is also Kohli's 100th appearance in whites. On his special Test, the 33-year-old returned for a 76-ball 45 and also completed 8,000 runs in the format; sixth Indian to do so.

Ind vs SL: Rohit joins Kohli, Dhoni, Dravid to become 35th cricketer to captain Team India in Tests

Suresh Raina wasn't retained by the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. However, he was still expected to attract few bids in the two-day auction affair in Bengaluru, held last month. Nonetheless, the veteran player didn't fetch a single bid in the auction proceedings as the CSK franchise didn't try to bring him back in their setup whereas no other team showed interest in acquiring his services.

After England's swashbuckling opener Jason Roy recently withdrew from the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, citing bio-bubble fatigue, many thought the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) would acquire Raina's services as a replacement for Roy. Nonetheless, as per sources, these reports aren't true.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-day-hardik-starts-bowling-hell-pip-iyer-for-the-all-rounders-slot-for-t20-world-cup-aakash-chopra-458204">The day Hardik starts bowling, he'll pip Iyer for the all-rounder's slot for T20 World Cup: Aakash Chopra</a>

"No, Suresh Raina is not joining Gujarat Titans. He is not even in consideration for spot," sources close to the development told&nbsp;timesnownews.com.

Earlier this week, England's limited-overs specialist Roy said in a statement, "Hi everyone, especially the Gujarat Titans fans and squad. It's with a heavy heart I have decided to pull out of this year's tournament. I want to thank the management and the captain Hardik for putting your faith in me and picking me in the auction. However with everything going on in the world over the last 3 years it's added up and taken it's toll on me. I feel it's only right I spend some time working on myself and my game over the next couple of months leading into a very busy year. I will be following each game of the Titans and backing them to lift the trophy in their first year of the tournament."

Roy was roped in by the Gujarat franchise for INR 20 million (INR 2 crore) in the mega auction.

<section>
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/big-blow-to-ms-dhonis-csk-as-deepak-chahar-set-to-miss-majority-of-ipl-2022-edition-reports-458194">Big blow to MS Dhoni's CSK as Deepak Chahar set to miss majority of IPL 2022 edition - Reports</a>
Talking about Raina, the 35-year-old remains one of the biggest names in IPL. He remains the&nbsp;fourth-highest run-getter (5,528) in the tournament after Virat Kohli (6283), Rohit Sharma (5784) and Shikhar Dhawan (5611). Raina was part of CSK's title campaigns in IPL 2010, 2011, 2018 and 2021.</section>

Suresh Raina wasn't retained by the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. However, he was still expected to attract few bids in the two-day auction affair in Bengaluru, held last month.

Suresh Raina wasn't retained by the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. However, he was still expected to attract few bids in the two-day auction affair in Bengaluru, held last month. Nonetheless, the veteran player didn't fetch a single bid in the auction proceedings as the CSK franchise didn't try to bring him back in their setup whereas no other team showed interest in acquiring his services. After England's swashbuckling opener Jason Roy recently withdrew from the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, citing bio-bubble fatigue, many thought the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) would acquire Raina's services as a replacement for Roy. Nonetheless, as per sources, these reports aren't true. ALSO READ | The day Hardik starts bowling, he'll pip Iyer for the all-rounder's slot for T20 World Cup: Aakash Chopra "No, Suresh Raina is not joining Gujarat Titans. He is not even in consideration for spot," sources close to the development told timesnownews.com. Earlier this week, England's limited-overs specialist Roy said in a statement, "Hi everyone, especially the Gujarat Titans fans and squad. It's with a heavy heart I have decided to pull out of this year's tournament. I want to thank the management and the captain Hardik for putting your faith in me and picking me in the auction. However with everything going on in the world over the last 3 years it's added up and taken it's toll on me. I feel it's only right I spend some time working on myself and my game over the next couple of months leading into a very busy year. I will be following each game of the Titans and backing them to lift the trophy in their first year of the tournament." Roy was roped in by the Gujarat franchise for INR 20 million (INR 2 crore) in the mega auction. ALSO READ | Big blow to MS Dhoni's CSK as Deepak Chahar set to miss majority of IPL 2022 edition - Reports Talking about Raina, the 35-year-old remains one of the biggest names in IPL. He remains the fourth-highest run-getter (5,528) in the tournament after Virat Kohli (6283), Rohit Sharma (5784) and Shikhar Dhawan (5611). Raina was part of CSK's title campaigns in IPL 2010, 2011, 2018 and 2021.

Former CSK star Suresh Raina not in consideration for Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022: Sources

In what can be termed as a&nbsp;big development, Deepak Chahar is most likely to miss the majority of the entire IPL 2022 edition, which is set to be held in India from March 26-May 29. Chahar sustained an injury during the India-West Indies T20I series at home and might even miss&nbsp;the entire upcoming season.&nbsp;

Chahar&nbsp;sustained a quadricep tear during the third T20I against West Indies last month. The injury made him miss the entire Sri Lanka T20Is and can also make him skip the IPL 15 edition in India, as per reports. According to ESPNCricinfo, the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is waiting for the final assessment from the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Bengaluru where the fast-bowling all-rounder is undergoing treatment at present.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-teams-to-assemble-in-mumbai-by-march-8-3-5-days-quarantine-before-entering-bio-bubble-458163">IPL 2022: Teams to assemble in Mumbai by March 8; 3-5 days quarantine before entering bio-bubble</a>

For the unversed, CSK had broken the bank to reacquire the services of the 29-year-old Chahar. For the first time in IPL auction history, the Chennai-based franchise shelled over INR 100 million on a player. Chahar was bought back by the four-time winners and defending champions for a whopping INR 140 million (INR 14 crore) in the IPL 2022 mega auction. He has so far accounted for 58 scalps in equal number of games for CSK in the IPL. His absence can be a huge blow to the franchise's chances of defending their title in the forthcoming season.

Chahar has been part of CSK since the franchise's&nbsp;readmission in 2018. Thus, he was part of Chennai's title-winning campaigns&nbsp;in 2018 and 2021.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chennai-super-kings-complete-squad-for-ipl-2022-deepak-chahar-most-expensive-in-raina-less-line-up-453033">Chennai Super Kings complete squad for IPL 2022: Deepak Chahar most expensive in Raina-less line-up</a>

Complete squad for Dhoni-led CSK for IPL 2022:

Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c &amp; wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

In what can be termed as a big development, Deepak Chahar is most likely to miss the majority of the entire IPL 2022 edition, which is set to be held in India from March 26-May 29.

In what can be termed as a big development, Deepak Chahar is most likely to miss the majority of the entire IPL 2022 edition, which is set to be held in India from March 26-May 29. Chahar sustained an injury during the India-West Indies T20I series at home and might even miss the entire upcoming season. Chahar sustained a quadricep tear during the third T20I against West Indies last month. The injury made him miss the entire Sri Lanka T20Is and can also make him skip the IPL 15 edition in India, as per reports. According to ESPNCricinfo, the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is waiting for the final assessment from the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Bengaluru where the fast-bowling all-rounder is undergoing treatment at present. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Teams to assemble in Mumbai by March 8; 3-5 days quarantine before entering bio-bubble For the unversed, CSK had broken the bank to reacquire the services of the 29-year-old Chahar. For the first time in IPL auction history, the Chennai-based franchise shelled over INR 100 million on a player. Chahar was bought back by the four-time winners and defending champions for a whopping INR 140 million (INR 14 crore) in the IPL 2022 mega auction. He has so far accounted for 58 scalps in equal number of games for CSK in the IPL. His absence can be a huge blow to the franchise's chances of defending their title in the forthcoming season. Chahar has been part of CSK since the franchise's readmission in 2018. Thus, he was part of Chennai's title-winning campaigns in 2018 and 2021. ALSO READ | Chennai Super Kings complete squad for IPL 2022: Deepak Chahar most expensive in Raina-less line-up Complete squad for Dhoni-led CSK for IPL 2022: Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

Big blow to MS Dhoni's CSK as Deepak Chahar set to miss majority of IPL 2022 edition - Reports

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 is all set to get underway from March 26 and the league stage of the tournament will be played across four venues in Mumbai and Pune. This will be the 15th edition of the tournament, which has become one of the biggest sporting leagues in the world over the years. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has already announced the start date and the venues of the tournament but is yet to confirm the official schedule of IPL 2022.

As per a report in the Indian Express, defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are all set to take on last year's finalists Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the opening game of the season. CSK had defeated KKR by 27 runs in the final of IPL 2021 last year to clinch their fourth title.

This time around, IPL is all set to have a new format with ten teams having been divided into two groups of five each. While CSK are placed in Group B, KKR are in Group B. The two teams will play against each other only once this season as they are part of different groups.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-new-format-explained-mumbai-indians-and-chennai-super-kings-headline-two-groups-456529">IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups</a>

Dedicated separate lane for IPL teams

The report further adds that the Maharashtra Government is ready to provide full support to the BCCI in making IPL 2022 a successful event. The state government has reportedly promised a separate lane for easy movement of the IPL teams during the course of the tournament.

The separate lane will help the teams in beating the busy traffic in Mumbai and Pune while travelling to the stadiums and training venues. Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA)'s ground in Bandra-Kurla Complex and Dadoji Kondadev Stadium in Thane are reportedly set to be used as training facilities for the IPL teams during the tournament.

The Wankhede Stadium and the DY Patil Stadium,&nbsp;Brabourne Stadium and the MCA Stadium in Pune are all set to host the 70 league matches during IPL 2022. The dates and venues for the playoffs are yet to be confirmed by the BCCI.

&nbsp;

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 is all set to get underway from March 26 and the league stage of the tournament will be played across four venues in Mumbai and Pune.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 is all set to get underway from March 26 and the league stage of the tournament will be played across four venues in Mumbai and Pune. This will be the 15th edition of the tournament, which has become one of the biggest sporting leagues in the world over the years. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has already announced the start date and the venues of the tournament but is yet to confirm the official schedule of IPL 2022. As per a report in the Indian Express, defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are all set to take on last year's finalists Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the opening game of the season. CSK had defeated KKR by 27 runs in the final of IPL 2021 last year to clinch their fourth title. This time around, IPL is all set to have a new format with ten teams having been divided into two groups of five each. While CSK are placed in Group B, KKR are in Group B. The two teams will play against each other only once this season as they are part of different groups. Also Read: IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups Dedicated separate lane for IPL teams The report further adds that the Maharashtra Government is ready to provide full support to the BCCI in making IPL 2022 a successful event. The state government has reportedly promised a separate lane for easy movement of the IPL teams during the course of the tournament. The separate lane will help the teams in beating the busy traffic in Mumbai and Pune while travelling to the stadiums and training venues. Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA)'s ground in Bandra-Kurla Complex and Dadoji Kondadev Stadium in Thane are reportedly set to be used as training facilities for the IPL teams during the tournament. The Wankhede Stadium and the DY Patil Stadium, Brabourne Stadium and the MCA Stadium in Pune are all set to host the 70 league matches during IPL 2022. The dates and venues for the playoffs are yet to be confirmed by the BCCI.

MS Dhoni's CSK to take on Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2022 opener: Report

After the end of the IPL 2022 mega auction, the excitement for the 15th edition of the cash-rich league is at its peak. With the addition of two new teams and a new group stage format introduced, the ardent cricket fans are desperately looking forward to the commencement of the IPL 2022 season in India, from March 26.

Ahead of the new season, Star Sports -- official broadcaster&nbsp;of IPL -- has revealed&nbsp;a teaser for the promo of IPL 15. In the promo, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni is seen in a new moustache look. While only a teaser has been out, Dhoni's new look has garnered eyeballs&nbsp;and&nbsp;become an instant hit among social media users. Here's the teaser of IPL 2022's new promo:

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-would-give-me-important-overs-jasprit-bumrah-reveals-how-rohit-sharma-helped-in-his-growth-456807">He would give me important overs: Jasprit Bumrah reveals how Rohit Sharma helped in his growth</a>

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-new-format-explained-mumbai-indians-and-chennai-super-kings-headline-two-groups-456529">IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups</a>

On Friday (February 25), BCCI announced a new&nbsp;format for the upcoming showpiece event. The forthcoming season will see the ten teams divided into two groups of five.&nbsp;Each team will play twice against all other four sides in their group and with the team in the same row in the other group. In addition, they will play once against the remaining four teams from the other group.

Talking about Dhoni-led CSK, here's the defending champions' full squad for&nbsp;IPL 2022:

Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c &amp; wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

After the end of the IPL 2022 mega auction, the excitement for the 15th edition of the cash-rich league is at its peak. With the addition of two new teams and a new group stage format introduced, the ardent cricket fans are desperately looking forward to the commencement of the IPL 2022 season in India, from March 26.

After the end of the IPL 2022 mega auction, the excitement for the 15th edition of the cash-rich league is at its peak. With the addition of two new teams and a new group stage format introduced, the ardent cricket fans are desperately looking forward to the commencement of the IPL 2022 season in India, from March 26. Ahead of the new season, Star Sports -- official broadcaster of IPL -- has revealed a teaser for the promo of IPL 15. In the promo, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni is seen in a new moustache look. While only a teaser has been out, Dhoni's new look has garnered eyeballs and become an instant hit among social media users. Here's the teaser of IPL 2022's new promo: ALSO READ | He would give me important overs: Jasprit Bumrah reveals how Rohit Sharma helped in his growth Stay Tuned#DhonisNewLook #ComingSoon pic.twitter.com/S17D8L7JPD — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 26, 2022 × ALSO READ | IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups On Friday (February 25), BCCI announced a new format for the upcoming showpiece event. The forthcoming season will see the ten teams divided into two groups of five. Each team will play twice against all other four sides in their group and with the team in the same row in the other group. In addition, they will play once against the remaining four teams from the other group. Talking about Dhoni-led CSK, here's the defending champions' full squad for IPL 2022: Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

MS Dhoni's new moustache look breaks the internet before IPL 2022 - watch

Rohit Sharma has had a dream start to his captaincy era. While Hitman has led the Men in Blue in only a handful of ODIs and is yet to start his Test captaincy era, the 34-year-old is on a winning spree as the captain in the shortest format.&nbsp;

After India defeated Sri Lanka by 62 runs in the series opener of the three T20Is, in Lucknow on Thursday (February 24), Rohit &amp; Co. attained their best-ever unbeaten streak in the format (10). Ahead of the second and penultimate T20I between both sides in Dharamshala, on Saturday (February 26), Rohit has a few major milestones awaiting him.&nbsp;

If India manage to beat Sri Lanka in the 2nd T20I and take an unassailable lead in the series, it will not only be another series triumph for the Rohit-led side but Hitman will also have most&nbsp;wins in the format as an Indian captain. So far, Rohit has 15 wins from 16 encounters and is currently levelled with Eoin Morgan and Aaron Finch. Among Indian skippers, Rohit is already two ahead of Virat Kohli's tally (13) whereas MS Dhoni comes third (10 wins).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-2nd-t20i-weather-report-will-rain-play-spoilsport-in-second-and-penultimate-tie-in-dharamshala-456685">Ind vs SL, 2nd T20I weather report: Will rain play spoilsport in second and penultimate tie in Dharamshala?</a>

In addition, Rohit is just 19 away from joining an elite list -- comprising Morgan, Finch, Dhoni, Kohli and Babar Azam -- to have 1,000, or more, runs as captain in T20Is. He will also become the second-quickest batter to reach the milestone, after Babar Azam (26 innings). Rohit&nbsp;fell just short of one innings&nbsp;of equalling the feat with the Pakistani. Among Indian captains, he looks set to become the fastest to be the milestone (in 27 innings if he does so on Saturday) -- with Kohli getting there in 30 innings whereas Dhoni was the slowest to get to 1,000 runs as captain in the format (57 innings).

Rohit Sharma has had a dream start to his captaincy era. While Hitman has led the Men in Blue in only a handful of ODIs and is yet to start his Test captaincy era, the 34-year-old is on a winning spree as the captain in the shortest format.

Rohit Sharma has had a dream start to his captaincy era. While Hitman has led the Men in Blue in only a handful of ODIs and is yet to start his Test captaincy era, the 34-year-old is on a winning spree as the captain in the shortest format. After India defeated Sri Lanka by 62 runs in the series opener of the three T20Is, in Lucknow on Thursday (February 24), Rohit & Co. attained their best-ever unbeaten streak in the format (10). Ahead of the second and penultimate T20I between both sides in Dharamshala, on Saturday (February 26), Rohit has a few major milestones awaiting him. If India manage to beat Sri Lanka in the 2nd T20I and take an unassailable lead in the series, it will not only be another series triumph for the Rohit-led side but Hitman will also have most wins in the format as an Indian captain. So far, Rohit has 15 wins from 16 encounters and is currently levelled with Eoin Morgan and Aaron Finch. Among Indian skippers, Rohit is already two ahead of Virat Kohli's tally (13) whereas MS Dhoni comes third (10 wins). ALSO READ | Ind vs SL, 2nd T20I weather report: Will rain play spoilsport in second and penultimate tie in Dharamshala? In addition, Rohit is just 19 away from joining an elite list -- comprising Morgan, Finch, Dhoni, Kohli and Babar Azam -- to have 1,000, or more, runs as captain in T20Is. He will also become the second-quickest batter to reach the milestone, after Babar Azam (26 innings). Rohit fell just short of one innings of equalling the feat with the Pakistani. Among Indian captains, he looks set to become the fastest to be the milestone (in 27 innings if he does so on Saturday) -- with Kohli getting there in 30 innings whereas Dhoni was the slowest to get to 1,000 runs as captain in the format (57 innings).

Ind vs SL, 2nd T20I: Rohit Sharma on the cusp of achieving major milestones in Dharamshala

Pakistan pacer Shahnawaz Dahani is a huge admirer of legendary Indian cricketer MS Dhoni. The fast bowler revealed it was a dream come true moment for him when he got to meet Dhoni and speak with him during the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE last year. Dahani, who was part of Pakistan's squad for the T20 World Cup, met Dhoni after of his side's clash against India in Dubai.

Dhoni was serving as the Indian team's mentor during the showpiece event having retired from international cricket himself in 2020. The former Indian skipper met a number of Pakistani cricketers in Dubai and interacted with them after their game against India.

When asked about his meeting with Dhoni, Pakistan pacer Dahani was full of praise for his idol and shared details of his conversation with him.&nbsp;

“It will take a lot of time for me to explain the level of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Meeting him was a dream come true and I can’t forget that moment. His words were quite beneficial as he told me about life, how to live life, respecting the elders. He told that there will be bad and good days in cricket but you have to embrace it and stay dedicated to the game you love the most," Dahani was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

Dahani is currently in action for his side Multan Sultans in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022. The fast bowler has had a brilliant season so far with 16 wickets in ten matches to help his side stay on top of the points table. Multan Sultans are currently on top of the PSL 2022 points table with 18 points from ten matches.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-new-format-explaind-mumbai-indians-and-chennai-super-kings-headline-two-groups-456529">IPL 2022 new format explained -&nbsp;Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups</a>

On the other hand, Dhoni, who led Chennai Super Kings to their fourth title triumph in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year, will return to lead the team once again this year. CSK had retained Dhoni as their second-choice player ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction.

Apart from retaining Ravindra Jadeja, Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Moeen Ali, CSK also managed to get back a number of former players like Dwayne Bravo, Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar and Robin Uthappa among others at the IPL 2022 mega auction to build a strong squad for the new season.

Pakistan pacer Shahnawaz Dahani is a huge admirer of legendary Indian cricketer MS Dhoni. The fast bowler revealed it was a dream come true moment for him when he got to meet Dhoni and speak with him during the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE last year.

Pakistan pacer Shahnawaz Dahani is a huge admirer of legendary Indian cricketer MS Dhoni. The fast bowler revealed it was a dream come true moment for him when he got to meet Dhoni and speak with him during the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE last year. Dahani, who was part of Pakistan's squad for the T20 World Cup, met Dhoni after of his side's clash against India in Dubai. Dhoni was serving as the Indian team's mentor during the showpiece event having retired from international cricket himself in 2020. The former Indian skipper met a number of Pakistani cricketers in Dubai and interacted with them after their game against India. When asked about his meeting with Dhoni, Pakistan pacer Dahani was full of praise for his idol and shared details of his conversation with him. “It will take a lot of time for me to explain the level of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Meeting him was a dream come true and I can’t forget that moment. His words were quite beneficial as he told me about life, how to live life, respecting the elders. He told that there will be bad and good days in cricket but you have to embrace it and stay dedicated to the game you love the most," Dahani was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan. Dahani is currently in action for his side Multan Sultans in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022. The fast bowler has had a brilliant season so far with 16 wickets in ten matches to help his side stay on top of the points table. Multan Sultans are currently on top of the PSL 2022 points table with 18 points from ten matches. Also Read: IPL 2022 new format explained - Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups On the other hand, Dhoni, who led Chennai Super Kings to their fourth title triumph in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year, will return to lead the team once again this year. CSK had retained Dhoni as their second-choice player ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. Apart from retaining Ravindra Jadeja, Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Moeen Ali, CSK also managed to get back a number of former players like Dwayne Bravo, Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar and Robin Uthappa among others at the IPL 2022 mega auction to build a strong squad for the new season.

It was dream come true, can't forget that: Pakistan pacer Shahnawaz Dahani on meeting idol MS Dhoni

Ishan Kishan slammed a brilliant knock of 89 runs as India thrashed Sri Laka by 62 runs in the first T20I of the ongoing three-match series in Lucknow on Friday. The wicket-keeper batter was under significant pressure to bounce back after his poor run in the recently-concluded T20I series against West Indies. However, Kishan silenced his critics in style with a&nbsp;stunning knock.

After Sri Lanka won the toss and invited India to bat first in the series-opener, Kishan and skipper Rohit Sharma got the hosts off to a flyer. The duo went all out against the Sri Lankan bowlers to post a 111-run opening stand. While skipper Rohit continued his good form and scored 44 off 32 balls, Kishan went berserk and slammed 89 off 56 deliveries.

Kishan's swashbuckling knock was laced with ten fours and three sixes as he took the Sri Lankan bowlers to the cleaners. The young wicket-keeper batter missed out on scoring his maiden T20I hundred by just 11 runs but ended up creating a new record for the Men in Blue in T20Is.

With the help of his brilliant knock, Kishan surpassed MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant to create the record for the highest individual score by an Indian wicket-keeper batter in T20Is. Pant held the record previously with the highest score of 65 runs in T20Is. While both Kishan and Rahul have played a number of matches as specialist batters in the Indian team, the list consists of their highest scores from matches where they also kept wickets for the team.

Highest individual scores by an Indian wicket-keeper in T20Is

Ishan Kishan- 89

Rishabh Pant- 65

KL Rahul- 57

MS Dhoni- 56

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wriddhiman-saha-likely-to-be-questioned-by-bcci-over-breach-of-central-contract-clause-report-456334">Wriddhiman Saha likely to be questioned by BCCI over breach of central contract clause: Report</a>

With the help of Kishan's 89, and Shreyas Iyer's quickfire 28-ball 57, India managed to put on a strong total of 199 runs on the board in the first T20I against Sri Lanka on Thursday. In reply, Sri Lanka were restrrcited on 137/6 in 20 overs after a superb bowling effort from the hosts.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar continued his fine form with the ball as he picked up two wickets while conceding only 9 runs in two over, all-rounder Venkateh Iyer also contributed well and picked up a couple of wickets despite conceding 36 runs in his 3 overs.

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Ishan Kishan slammed a brilliant knock of 89 runs as India thrashed Sri Laka by 62 runs in the first T20I of the ongoing three-match series in Lucknow on Friday.

Ishan Kishan slammed a brilliant knock of 89 runs as India thrashed Sri Laka by 62 runs in the first T20I of the ongoing three-match series in Lucknow on Friday. The wicket-keeper batter was under significant pressure to bounce back after his poor run in the recently-concluded T20I series against West Indies. However, Kishan silenced his critics in style with a stunning knock. After Sri Lanka won the toss and invited India to bat first in the series-opener, Kishan and skipper Rohit Sharma got the hosts off to a flyer. The duo went all out against the Sri Lankan bowlers to post a 111-run opening stand. While skipper Rohit continued his good form and scored 44 off 32 balls, Kishan went berserk and slammed 89 off 56 deliveries. Kishan's swashbuckling knock was laced with ten fours and three sixes as he took the Sri Lankan bowlers to the cleaners. The young wicket-keeper batter missed out on scoring his maiden T20I hundred by just 11 runs but ended up creating a new record for the Men in Blue in T20Is. With the help of his brilliant knock, Kishan surpassed MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant to create the record for the highest individual score by an Indian wicket-keeper batter in T20Is. Pant held the record previously with the highest score of 65 runs in T20Is. While both Kishan and Rahul have played a number of matches as specialist batters in the Indian team, the list consists of their highest scores from matches where they also kept wickets for the team. Highest individual scores by an Indian wicket-keeper in T20Is Ishan Kishan- 89 Rishabh Pant- 65 KL Rahul- 57 MS Dhoni- 56 Also Read: Wriddhiman Saha likely to be questioned by BCCI over breach of central contract clause: Report With the help of Kishan's 89, and Shreyas Iyer's quickfire 28-ball 57, India managed to put on a strong total of 199 runs on the board in the first T20I against Sri Lanka on Thursday. In reply, Sri Lanka were restrrcited on 137/6 in 20 overs after a superb bowling effort from the hosts. Bhuvneshwar Kumar continued his fine form with the ball as he picked up two wickets while conceding only 9 runs in two over, all-rounder Venkateh Iyer also contributed well and picked up a couple of wickets despite conceding 36 runs in his 3 overs.

Ishan Kishan surpasses MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant to create new record for Team India in T20Is

Mithali Raj-led India women endured a forgettable run in the just-concluded five-match ODI series versus hosts New Zealand ahead of the ICC World Cup. While the visitors prevented a series whitewash, they weren't upto the mark in the first four games to lose the series 4-1.

Despite a big series loss, India had some players rising up to the challenge throughout the course of the five ODIs. Stumper Richa Ghosh, who is also part of India's squad for the upcoming Women's World Cup, stunned one and all with her range of shots during a scintillating 26-ball 50 (52) in the fourth and penultimate ODI.

The 18-year-old Richa's innings was filled with 4 fours and an equal number of sixes, at 179.31, as she made a strong statement before the mega event. Despite India falling short by 63 runs in pursuit of 192 in the rain-curtailed 20-over aside contest, Richa made heads turn and revealed MS Dhoni as her idol.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-smriti-mandhana-to-jhulan-goswami-5-players-who-hold-key-for-mithali-rajs-india-in-odi-world-cup-456081">From Smriti Mandhana to Jhulan Goswami: 5 players who hold key for Mithali Raj's India in ODI World Cup</a>

"It felt really great as it was my first 50. The last time I got out for 44 in Australia but here I was able to continue and reach half-century. I was really happy, and my parents were also elated by it as they called up to congratulate me after the knock," she told team skipper Mithali Raj in a post-match video on bcci.tv.

"During my childhood, I used to look up to my father. I used to practice with him at that time, so I was influenced by his aggressive batting approach. When I began watching matches of Team India, I started following MS Dhoni as I was impressed with his power-hitting abilities with the bat coupled with effective wicket-keeping behind the stumps. He is my idol,"&nbsp;Richa added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nz-v-ind-smriti-harman-mithalis-fifties-help-india-avoid-series-whitewash-win-5th-odi-by-6-wickets-455956">NZ v IND: Smriti, Harman, Mithali's fifties help India avoid series whitewash, win 5th ODI by 6 wickets</a>

"I think it was a very nice inning by her. I was in awe of her for the shots she played, the sixes she hit against the wind. They were the shots one could admire from the other end," skipper Mithali lauded Richa's knock.

On Thursday (February 24), Indian eves chased down a competitive 252-run target, by six wickets, to prevent a series whitewash versus the White Ferns before the commencement of the ODI World Cup, from March 04.

Mithali Raj-led India women endured a forgettable run in the just-concluded five-match ODI series versus hosts New Zealand ahead of the ICC World Cup. While the visitors prevented a series whitewash, they weren't upto the mark in the first four games to lose the series 4-1.

Mithali Raj-led India women endured a forgettable run in the just-concluded five-match ODI series versus hosts New Zealand ahead of the ICC World Cup. While the visitors prevented a series whitewash, they weren't upto the mark in the first four games to lose the series 4-1. Despite a big series loss, India had some players rising up to the challenge throughout the course of the five ODIs. Stumper Richa Ghosh, who is also part of India's squad for the upcoming Women's World Cup, stunned one and all with her range of shots during a scintillating 26-ball 50 (52) in the fourth and penultimate ODI. The 18-year-old Richa's innings was filled with 4 fours and an equal number of sixes, at 179.31, as she made a strong statement before the mega event. Despite India falling short by 63 runs in pursuit of 192 in the rain-curtailed 20-over aside contest, Richa made heads turn and revealed MS Dhoni as her idol. ALSO READ | From Smriti Mandhana to Jhulan Goswami: 5 players who hold key for Mithali Raj's India in ODI World Cup "It felt really great as it was my first 50. The last time I got out for 44 in Australia but here I was able to continue and reach half-century. I was really happy, and my parents were also elated by it as they called up to congratulate me after the knock," she told team skipper Mithali Raj in a post-match video on bcci.tv. "During my childhood, I used to look up to my father. I used to practice with him at that time, so I was influenced by his aggressive batting approach. When I began watching matches of Team India, I started following MS Dhoni as I was impressed with his power-hitting abilities with the bat coupled with effective wicket-keeping behind the stumps. He is my idol," Richa added. ALSO READ | NZ v IND: Smriti, Harman, Mithali's fifties help India avoid series whitewash, win 5th ODI by 6 wickets "I think it was a very nice inning by her. I was in awe of her for the shots she played, the sixes she hit against the wind. They were the shots one could admire from the other end," skipper Mithali lauded Richa's knock. On Thursday (February 24), Indian eves chased down a competitive 252-run target, by six wickets, to prevent a series whitewash versus the White Ferns before the commencement of the ODI World Cup, from March 04.

I started following MS Dhoni: India women's stumper Richa Ghosh lavishes huge praise on iconic player

Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson recently gave his take on the captaincy styles of the legendary MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and current Indian captain Rohit Sharma. Watson believes all three captains are unique in their own way and have different leadership styles.

While Watson called Kohli a 'superhuman', the former all-rounder said MS Dhoni has got ice running through his veins and is incredibly calm as a captain. He also hailed Rohit as a natural leader and said he has grown in stature having captained a team like Mumbai Indians for so many years in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Waston, who played under Kohli for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL, praised the former India skipper for pushing the standards high for himself and his team. Watson said Kohli is superhuman to him and knows how to push players around him as well.

"Virat as a leader, has done incredible things, the way he has been able to push players, he has got such high expectations of himself and he brings that to every game he plays. For me, I believe Virat is superhuman, he knows how to push players around him. Virat is an incredibly good guy, he is a well-balanced character off the field, the knowledge he has is fascinating. It was a great experience for me to work with Virat at RCB," Watson said on the 'ICC Review'.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csks-most-expensive-signing-at-mega-auction-deepak-chahar-can-be-ruled-out-of-ipl-2022-report-455641">CSK's most expensive signing at mega auction Deepak Chahar can be ruled out of IPL 2022 - Report</a>

Even during the final lap of his career, Watson enjoyed tremendous success while playing under MS Dhoni for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL. Watson played for CSK for three seasons and played an instrumental role in taking them to two finals in 2018 and 2019. While Dhoni &amp; Co. won the title in 2018, they missed out on the trophy closely in 2019.

Giving insights about Dhoni's leadership qualities, Watson said Dhoni's ability to handle pressure situations and get the best out of his players has always fascinated him.

"MS Dhoni has got ice running through his veins, his ability to take the pressure out of a team environment, he trusts his players, he makes sure everyone has faith in their abilities. He knows what works for himself and the people around him. He trusts his instincts on the field, he trusts that players will do their research and do what is needed on the field," said the former Australian all-rounder.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-hasnt-apologised-or-got-in-touch-with-me-wriddhiman-saha-on-journalist-who-threatened-him-455602">He hasn't apologised or got in touch with me: Wriddhiman Saha on journalist who threatened him</a>

&nbsp;Talking about Rohit, who was appointed as India's captain across all formats last week, Watson said he is a natural leader and has experience of leading a top side like Mumbai Indians. Rohit is the most successful captain in IPL history with five titles to his name.

"He is such a natural and easy leader. I watched him closely leading the Mumbai Indians and nothing seemed to faze him. He goes about his work incredibly well, he has had experience leading teams as well, captaining a franchise like Mumbai in high-pressure situations. There is always a high expectation from Mumbai in the IPL," said Watson.

&nbsp;

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Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson recently gave his take on the captaincy styles of the legendary MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and current Indian captain Rohit Sharma.

Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson recently gave his take on the captaincy styles of the legendary MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and current Indian captain Rohit Sharma. Watson believes all three captains are unique in their own way and have different leadership styles. While Watson called Kohli a 'superhuman', the former all-rounder said MS Dhoni has got ice running through his veins and is incredibly calm as a captain. He also hailed Rohit as a natural leader and said he has grown in stature having captained a team like Mumbai Indians for so many years in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Waston, who played under Kohli for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL, praised the former India skipper for pushing the standards high for himself and his team. Watson said Kohli is superhuman to him and knows how to push players around him as well. "Virat as a leader, has done incredible things, the way he has been able to push players, he has got such high expectations of himself and he brings that to every game he plays. For me, I believe Virat is superhuman, he knows how to push players around him. Virat is an incredibly good guy, he is a well-balanced character off the field, the knowledge he has is fascinating. It was a great experience for me to work with Virat at RCB," Watson said on the 'ICC Review'. Also Read: CSK's most expensive signing at mega auction Deepak Chahar can be ruled out of IPL 2022 - Report Even during the final lap of his career, Watson enjoyed tremendous success while playing under MS Dhoni for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL. Watson played for CSK for three seasons and played an instrumental role in taking them to two finals in 2018 and 2019. While Dhoni & Co. won the title in 2018, they missed out on the trophy closely in 2019. Giving insights about Dhoni's leadership qualities, Watson said Dhoni's ability to handle pressure situations and get the best out of his players has always fascinated him. "MS Dhoni has got ice running through his veins, his ability to take the pressure out of a team environment, he trusts his players, he makes sure everyone has faith in their abilities. He knows what works for himself and the people around him. He trusts his instincts on the field, he trusts that players will do their research and do what is needed on the field," said the former Australian all-rounder. Also Read: He hasn't apologised or got in touch with me: Wriddhiman Saha on journalist who threatened him Talking about Rohit, who was appointed as India's captain across all formats last week, Watson said he is a natural leader and has experience of leading a top side like Mumbai Indians. Rohit is the most successful captain in IPL history with five titles to his name. "He is such a natural and easy leader. I watched him closely leading the Mumbai Indians and nothing seemed to faze him. He goes about his work incredibly well, he has had experience leading teams as well, captaining a franchise like Mumbai in high-pressure situations. There is always a high expectation from Mumbai in the IPL," said Watson.

MS Dhoni has got ice running through his veins, Virat Kohli is a superhuman: Shane Watson

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