Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Thursday have announced that iconic wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni has quit as the captain of the side ahead of the start of IPL 2022…reports Asian Lite News
In place of Dhoni, left-arm spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will be the new captain of Chennai.
“MS Dhoni has decided to hand over the leadership of Chennai Super Kings and picked Ravindra Jadeja to lead the team. Jadeja, who has been an integral part of Chennai Super Kings since 2012, will only be the third player to lead CSK. Dhoni will continue to represent Chennai Super Kings this season and beyond,” said a statement from the franchise.
Dhoni, who had been the captain of CSK since the inception of the league in 2008, had already retired from international cricket in August 2020. Under his captaincy, Chennai won the IPL trophy in 2010, 2011, 2018 and 2021 apart from winning two now-defunct Champions League T20 titles in 2010 and 2014.
CSK will open their IPL 2022 campaign against two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders in a re-match of the 2021 IPL final at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.
Raina has scored 5,615 runs in ODI cricket at an average of 35.31. He also registered 768 runs in the longest format of the game with his highest score being 120…reports Asian Lite News
Former India cricketer Vinod Kambli feels that Chennai Super Kings will miss the camaraderie between former India skipper MS Dhoni and prolific batter Suresh Raina.
Raina, who had a base price of Rs 2 crore, went unsold in the IPL auction (on both days) for the first time in the history of the mega event.
“Suresh Raina #chinnathala who played for Chennai and has been a prolific scorer goes unsold at IPL. We will miss him at the league and he deserves to get a good farewell. IPL will surely miss the camaraderie between Dhoni and Raina. Great friendships should remain intact. #thala and #chinnathala irreplaceable for Chennai,” Kambli wrote on Koo.
Raina has scored 5,615 runs in ODI cricket at an average of 35.31. He also registered 768 runs in the longest format of the game with his highest score being 120.
Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanath on Monday said, “Raina has been one of the most consistent performers for CSK for the last 12 years. Of course, it was very difficult for us, not to have Raina but at the same time, you should also understand that the team composition depends on the form and kind of team which any team would like to have so that’s one of the reasons why we thought he may not fit into this team.”
Thamilmani added that ‘Atharva – The Origin’ was a dream project close to his heart…reports Asian Lite News
Giving comic lovers and M.S. Dhoni fans a reason to rejoice, Virzu Studio in association with MIDAS Deals, has released the motion poster of its upcoming mega-budget graphic novel ‘Atharva – The Origin’.
Starring none other than Dhoni himself as a superhero and warrior leader, the official motion poster was released on Wednesday by the cricketer on his official Facebook handle.
The motion poster features a rugged-looking Dhoni, giving fans a glimpse into the world of Atharva and also a sneak peek into the first look of the cricketer as a superhero.
In an effort to offer an immersive experience to readers, the creators have worked with a team of artists diligently for several years to create the mystical world of Atharva.
Teleporting the readers to a different universe, this graphic novel, authored by Ramesh Thamilmani, headed by M V M Vel Mohan and produced by Vincent Adaikalaraj and Ashok Manor, features over 150 lifelike illustrations which present the gripping, racy narrative.
Commenting on the project, the former India captain and Chennai Super Kings skipper said: “I am thrilled to be associated with this project and it is indeed an exciting venture. ‘Atharva – The Origin’ is a captivating graphic novel with an engaging story and immersive artworks. Thamilmani’s attempt to launch India’s first mythological superhero with a contemporary twist will leave every reader wanting for more.”
Thamilmani added that ‘Atharva – The Origin’ was a dream project close to his heart.
Thamilmani said: “We have worked for several years to bring alive a vision, an idea and translate it into a masterpiece as you will see. I am excited and happy to have M.S. Dhoni portraying Atharva, who truly embodies the character.”
He concluded by saying: “Each of the characters and artwork in the novel. including that of M.S. Dhoni’s, has been developed post extensive research and every nuance of the world has been created with great attention to detail.”
The 73-year-old signed off by saying that England need to reset their thinking on how they develop batting techniques, especially after a 4-0 thrashing in the Ashes…reports Asian Lite News
Former India head coach Greg Chappell heaped praise on MS Dhoni, saying the ex-captain of the national side was one of the sharpest cricket brains he had ever encountered.
He added that Dhoni played the game on various pitches early on, which resulted in him developing decision-making and strategic skills, setting him apart from his peers.
“The Indian subcontinent still has many towns where coaching facilities are rare and youngsters play in streets and on vacant land without the interference of formal coaching. This is where many of their current stars have learned the game,” wrote Chappell in his column for ESPNCricinfo on Wednesday.
Taking Dhoni as an example of learning batting naturally, Chappell remarked, “MS Dhoni, with whom I worked in India, is a good example of a batter who developed his talent and learned to play in this fashion. By competing against more experienced individuals on a variety of surfaces early in his development, Dhoni developed the decision-making and strategic skills that have set him apart from many of his peers. His is one of the sharpest cricket minds I have encountered.”
Chappell went on to say that the flair in England’s batting has been missing due to emphasis on learning via a prescribed textbook. “England, on the other hand, have very few of these natural environments and their players are produced in a narrow band of public schools, with an emphasis on the coaching manual. This is why their batting has lost much of its flair and resilience.
“The games that young people make up and play are dynamic and foster creativity, joy, flexibility in technical execution, tactical understanding and decision-making, which are often missing in batting at the highest levels. The greatest batters developed their talent over long periods of time by playing and learning in creative, informal learning environments from young ages without an excessive focus on perfecting someone else’s idea of what an ideal technique should look like.”
The 73-year-old signed off by saying that England need to reset their thinking on how they develop batting techniques, especially after a 4-0 thrashing in the Ashes.
“England would do well to look at their coaching methods and how the best batters develop their skills as part of any review that they initiate on the back of another resounding defeat in Australia. The England batting was bereft of class, short on imagination, and lacked resilience throughout this tour.
“If I was in charge of English cricket, I know what I would do first – but I won’t be giving that information away for free! If they don’t do something drastic, they will be accused of behaving as in the aphorism that has often been mis-attributed to Albert Einstein: Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
