For Mahendra Singh Dhoni, it is hard to put behind his eight fruitful years with suspended Chennai Super Kings. The Indian captain, who rarely betrays emotions, didn’t even try portraying it otherwise. He rather admitted feeling a bit odd leading a new entrant in Rising Pune Supergiants but vowed to put up his best foot forward like always.
Dhoni had nearly become synonymous with Super Kings, leading them to great heights in the IPL, before the Chennai side was suspended over spot-fixing charges for two years. Dhoni wouldn’t like to delve into this controversial past but said he would miss his former teammates.
“If you want me to be politically correct, that is not how I am. After eight years of IPL, it feels very different to play for any other team. If all of a sudden you want me to say that I am very excited to play for a new team, don't give credit to CSK and the fans for the love and affection they have given us, it will be wrong,” Dhoni said at the jersey unveiling of Pune.
“I would be lying if I say I have moved on. That is the special part of being a human being. There is got to be an emotional connect after eight years. There are a lot of players we will miss. We were together for eight years. We were so consistent and our strength was that we played as a team.
“But I would like to thank Pune for taking me. We have a balanced side now with the addition of Albie Morkel and Saurabh Tiwary.”
Pune has some big names in Australian captain Steve Smith, offie Ravichandran Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, South African batsmen Faf du Plessis besides Kevin Pietersen.
With Pietersen being the problem child of English cricket, it has evinced considerable interest on how Dhoni plans to take him along.
The captain cool, however, doesn’t want to judge him on the basis of preconceived notions.
“Sometimes the media and people create an image of a person but when you meet him, he turns out to be very different. KP is a fantastic player, he is somebody who is aggressive and expressive on the field. I don't think it will be an issue,” Dhoni said.
The team management has also appointed former cricketer Hrishikesh Kanitkar as the assistance coach of the side.
“We are top contenders”
The emphatic triumph over Sri Lanka giving a perfect start to their World Twenty20 build-up, Indian captain MS Dhoni said his side will be one of the top contenders at the showpiece even though some top batsmen are yet to get enough time in the middle.
“We are always top contenders when it comes to the shorter format. Also the World Cup being held in India, the spinners will come into action and that gives us added benefit and also the exposure of playing IPL over here. Out of eight seasons we have played seven here and all of that will count,” he said.
