Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has dedicated the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) season to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni. The new champions defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 2023 season's final on Monday, May 29, to win their fifth IPL trophy.
Raja is of the opinion that IPL 2023 was dominated by CSK's yellow and the trophy was the perfect tribute for MS Dhoni. Recalling the moment when the legendary Sunil Gavaskar took Dhoni's autograph, he said in a video shared on his YouTube channel, "This IPL will be remembered for the colour yellow, and for MS Dhoni. His humility, the Dhonimania, his captaincy, his calmness, and his keeping will be remembered for ages.
"But most of all, this IPL will be remembered for the moment when a legend like Sunil Gavaskar asked MS Dhoni to sign an autograph on his shirt. There cannot be a bigger compliment for MS Dhoni."
Raja also said that the 16th edition of the tournament was the 'the greatest ever'. "It will be remembered for young batting talent, the likes of Rinku Singh, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad. These are stars who'll decorate these grounds for many years to come. The season will also be remembered for the big names that were benched and players from small nations who made a big mark.
For the fact that even if you have big names in the coaching staff in the dugout, there's no guarantee of success for the teams. This IPL will be remembered for the fans, for great shot making and for great catching. Jab bowlers wicket lete the toh wo ulte seedhe bhangde nahi daalta the, they rather took their game up in the pressure situations. The tournament will be remembered for Gujarat Titans' bowling and leg spin bowling. This IPL had a wow factor. There has never been a spectacle as big in IPL history," said the former Pakistan cricketer.
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