IPL 2023: Can Take Someone Else's Trash And Make Them Treasure - CSK Legend On Magician Dhoni

Ahmedabad, May 27: Former Chennai Super Kings batter Matthew Hayden has labelled veteran skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni as a "magician" who can turn someone else's "trash into treasure" as the franchise make 10th IPL final appearance.

Dhoni's tactical genius has played a big part in CSK reaching the IPL 2023 final. The second most successful side in IPL history reached the IPL 2023 final by beating Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 23.

The four-time champions did not have the best of bowling attacks at their disposal at the start of the tournament, but captain Dhoni has been able to bring the best out of it with the likes of Tushar Deshpande and Matheesha Pathirana stepping up.

The way the skipper has used Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube in the batting department has also been praised widely. The duo have been used as per the game situation.

CSK and Dhoni have also been credited with reviving most players' careers like Ambati Rayudu, Rahane among others. Hayden said that shows the tactical nous and ability of Dhoni the skipper.

"MS is a magician. He takes someone else's trash and makes them treasure. He is a very skilful and positive captain," Hayden told PTI citing the revival of some players' career.

Hayden also reckons that the former India captain's unmatched contribution to the CSK success story makes his playing future with the franchise "almost irrelevant".

"He said something really interesting which I thought summed up not only his humility and his truth around cricket where he is represented and that is in Tamil Nadu Cricket Association," Hayden added on the franchise's relationship with the association.

"The alignment between that association and the franchise, how strong that is in terms of building that process. To me that is MS. There is a systematic way of going though things and working through them. He did that for India and he is doing it for Chennai Super kings."

Dhoni, who has played with a knee injury throughout the tournament, has given himself 8-9 months to decide on his playing future. Hayden, however, feels the World Cup winning captain will not be around for the next IPL.

"Whether he plays or not next year it is almost irrelevant. Personally I don't think he will but then he is M S Dhoni," the former Australia opener said at an event organised by University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

If this is Dhoni's final season as player in the IPL, the veteran skipper will like to end his career with another title for CSK when they face Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (May 28).

(With PTI inputs)