The legacry of MS Dhoni in cricket is undeniable. Bursting onto the scene in 2004 with his explosive batting, the wicketkeeper-batsman quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with. His leadership skills soon became equally noteworthy. Dhoni captained India to three historic ICC titles - the T20 World Cup in 2007, the ODI World Cup in 2011, and the Champions Trophy in 2013. Earning the moniker 'Captain Cool' for his composed demeanor under pressure, he replicated this success with the Chennai Super Kings. Leading the team with the same calm confidence, Dhoni has secured a joint-high five IPL titles and two Champions League titles for CSK. Once again MS Dhoni will be leading the CSK pack in the IPL 2024 which will get underway from March 22.
Beyond his on-field achievements, Dhoni is also known for his wit. Fans cherish his memorable press conferences and post-match presentations, where his sharp and often humorous remarks bring moments of joy.
Let's have a look at some of MS Dhoni's wittiest quotes in IPL:
Marking his 200th match as CSK captain, Dhoni led his team against Rajasthan Royals. Chennai's uncharacteristic coolness prompted a witty remark from the skipper, who compared the weather to Switzerland.
“It feels good and also I feel the crowd has been fantastic. Also the fact that we started in the old stadium, it was very hot and humid. But now it feels like we’re playing in Switzerland.”
Dhoni's retirement continued to be a mystery as a fan brought it up at a pre-season event in 2023. True to form, the CSK skipper offered a characteristically cryptic answer
“There is lots of time to take that call. Right now, we have lots of games, and the coach will be under pressure if I say something.”
After leading CSK to the 2018 IPL finals with a win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1, Dhoni faced questions about his decision to exclude Harbhajan Singh from the playoffs bowling attack. Harbhajan was a key bowler for CSK that season, making his absence all the more curious
“I have quite a few cars and bikes in my garage, I don’t use all of them always,” replied Dhoni.
Harsha Bhogle probed Dhoni about CSK's consistent playoff appearances, prompting a humorous response from the CSK skipper.
“If I tell everyone what it is, then they (CSK) won’t buy me at the auctions. It’s a trade secret. The crowd support and franchise’s support are key of course.”
In the wake of the devastating IPL 2013 spot-fixing scandal, Dhoni faced questions about its impact on the Indian national team. He was also pressed on how he planned to contribute to efforts aimed at cleaning up the IPL
“We will try the laundry, that’s good, will keep us clean,” replied a calm Dhoni.
With India's struggles in the 2014 England Tests fresh in everyone's mind, a question arose concerning player priorities. Dhoni was asked if the players might be willing to prioritize national team preparation by skipping the IPL and playing County cricket in England before the next series.
Dhoni’s response was sharp.
“Ask the BCCI about it. And don’t get jealous of IPL.”
The Katappa Quip
The burning question of 2017, 'Why did Katappa kill Baahubali?' from the blockbuster movie, even reached the ever-composed Dhoni. Unaware of the reference, Dhoni simply laughed and said:
“See, no one answered me when I asked them. I didn’t get a chance to watch the movie but definitely, I love to watch the movie. Don’t tell us the answer, I would love to know the answer by watching the movie.”
A playful exchange unfolded during Dhoni's time with Rising Pune Supergiant. Kevin Pietersen, known for his wit, relayed a message through teammate Manoj Tiwary, boasting about his superior golfing skills compared to Dhoni.
"He’s still my first Test wicket,” Dhoni immediately shot back, invoking laughs from everyone.
A question from Sanjay Manjrekar ignited a mini-debate. Manjrekar asked Dhoni if his team showed more respect to Rohit Sharma's team compared to others. This is how the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman replied:
“It will be a mistake if we just respect Mumbai – most of the teams are all dangerous. Mumbai is a very balanced side and they have a squad that can do well in all conditions. You try to break down the process into small things. We don’t think too much about the playoffs,”
Following a defeat against the Rajasthan Royals in Abu Dhabi during IPL 2021, Dhoni's post-match comments took a sarcastic turn. When Ian Bishop inquired if 190 runs were a good total, the 2011 World Cup-winning captain said:
“250 would have been close to that. ”
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