IPL 2023: Clever MS Dhoni is managing CSK and himself brilliantly this season, says Sanjay Manjrekar

Chennai, April 30: Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar heaped praise on how Mahendra Singh Dhoni has managed the Chennai Super Kings team and himself so far in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.

MS Dhoni has reportedly been playing with a knee issue this season, which could be his last. And Manjrekar has been impressed with the new avatar of the veteran skipper.

CSK's biggest strength this season is the way their batters are firing and the way skipper Dhoni is leading them by optimising his resources to perfection.

Manjrekar praised Dhoni for the way he's managing his teammates, as well as himself because the knee injury seems to be pestering him constantly.

"MS Dhoni is a clever cricketer. He knows his limitations. We are seeing a new avatar of him this season. Earlier he used to manage the team, this year, he's also managing himself," Manjrekar said on Star Sports' Cricket Live.

A big positive for CSK is the way all-rounder Shivam Dube is batting. The tall left-handed batter has been hitting sixes for fun in this TATA IPL, and former India cricketer Ravi Shastri seems to be in awe of the Mumbaikar.

"Shivam Dube has range and power. He's tall and he can easily hit sixes just by standing in his place, which makes him a dangerous batter. He's been given the license from the skipper to just go out there and explode," Shastri said.

Ajinkya Rahane's revamped version is another big boost for Chennai Super Kings in the TATA IPL 2023. The senior India cricketer has got the freedom at CSK to express himself which has done wonders for him, as well as for the franchise.

Former Australia cricketer Aaron Finch thinks the faith coach Stephen Fleming and skipper Dhoni showed in Rahane is paying dividends.

"Ajinkya Rahane got the freedom at CSK. After a poor run last year, he might have thought his IPL career was done. But then he got another opportunity after CSK picked him up," Finch said.

"He got that unexpected opportunity with MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming tapping on his shoulders and saying 'you are playing' go and have some fun, express yourself."

Dhoni's CSK host Punjab Kings at Chepauk in the day game of TATA IPL 2023 on Sunday (April 30). It will be the 999th game of the Incredible T20 League and Dhoni-led side will be aiming to return to winning ways after facing a big defeat in Jaipur.

Punjab Kings also suffered a big defeat against Lucknow Super Giants in a high-scoring game at home in their previous encounter on captain Shikhar Dhawan's return.