"Captaincy Or Not, MS Dhoni Is The Same": CSK Bowling Coach Clean Bowled By Thala

MS Dhoni's masterclass brought an end to Chennai's lean patch as the Super Kings stamped their authority with an invaluable five-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday. Dhoni's 11-ball 26 gave CSK the finishing touch required in the chase of the 167-run target, helping the franchise return to winning ways after a string of poor results. CSK's bowling coach Eric Simmons, speaking at the post-match press conference, highlighted the influence Dhoni has on the team, be it with the captaincy title or without it. 

"His influence has been there all the time, you know, even when he wasn't captain. His relationship with Rutu is very important. His relationship with Fleming is very important. His relationship with all the players is very important. It's not that he teaches typical technical issues about the game, but it's the calmness that you see out there—that's how he teaches you to play the game. He teaches an understanding of cricket, which is a very important aspect of the game. So that influence, that calmness that he brings, has always been there, but tonight we saw it once again," Eric Simmons said after the match.

He highlighted his ability to hit the ball cleanly and confidently, emphasizing the positive impact of his performance on the team.

"You know, the fact that he's captain or not captain—he's the same person. It didn't change when he wasn't, in terms of his actual influence on the team. He's obviously a very important part of our setup. As I said, it's a pity that Ruturaj is not there to play and be our captain and our leader, but MS has always been like that. As I said, it doesn't feel like a massive change because he's always been there