Episodes

  • Way to Go Forward for the Derailed and Beleaguered Chennai Express in IPL2025

    Way to Go Forward for the Derailed and Beleaguered Chennai Express in IPL2025
    Apr 21 2025
    After a win against LSG in Lucknow, MSD & Co looked listless in Wankhede yesterday with Chennai Express getting derailed by an all out assault from Rohit & Sky. However, a 9 wicket loss is rather more attributable to defensive and mindless bowling by bowlers amid dew. The way Khaleel did not even appeal for lbw on a delivery bowled to Rickeltin showed a clear lack of intent worsened by Dhoni's clear tactical miss. Rohit's well known vulnerablity against incoming, full deliveries against pacers early-on was never exploited by anyone. Rather, the bowlers kept bowling short deliveries to him which were duly dispatched for sixes. Sky's weakness against slower cutters, too, was never used. Instead, the bowlers kept bowling full to him on his legs consistently and he kept sweeping them outside the park. The surprising tactical moves to bring in Ashwin, instead of Kamboj, as impact player amid incoming dew and not letting his best bowler so far, Noor, to come into play till the 9th over, were simply unfathomable. So, the bowlers let the team down as 176 was still defendable (as PBKS has shown how to defend 113 against RCB simply with self belief). As a die-hard MSD fan and CSK supporter, it is so heart wrenching to see your heroes go down humiliatingly like this. Let's look at what could MSD & Co could do going forward:- 1 Leveraging youth in powerplays: Rachin, Rashid and Mhatre should be encouraged to go all-guns blazing early-on for that blazing start from the outset. Ruturaj to replace any one of them next year. 2 Middle Order to be beefed-up: Dube and Conway at number 4 & 5 need to anchor and build the innings during the middle overs for the finishers to follow. Conway to replace Vijay Shankar who has been given enough chances. 3 Additional Finisher: Play Sam Curran largely for his batting prowess as a finisher along with Dhoni and Jaddu. He also adds bowling variety to the attack, especially with his precise Yorkers and cutters on flat tracks. Simply a couple of bad games early-on does not mean banishing him for the entire season. He needs to replace Overton who brings nothing much in bowling and is a less capable batter than Curran who can quickly score useful 25-30 runs off 8-10 deliveries. 4 Bowling Attack: Khaleel and Kamboj as frontline bowlers have looked decent with Kamboj clearly showing significant promise. Noor & Jaddu need to stick to their strengths and bowl slightly slower & vary pace to be more effective, especially on flat tracks. MS should also use Rachin as the third spinner (rather than Ashwin), which the NZ team always dies, at least for an over or two. It also would engage Rachin better and involve him into the game as currently he looks sidelined. Pathirana desperately needs to work on his accuracy and use bouncers & change of pace effectively as he is becoming too predictable. Curran would be the fourth pace bowler in the attack which could be used as required and as per conditions. This would add bowling variety while also providing options with 7 bowlers. 5 Lastly, bowling and fielding coaches have to pull-up their socks' and need to work on formulating and preparing specific, customized bowling plans for the opponents' batsmen based on analysts' inputs. The fielding coach needs to really push the players as CSK this year have been the worst fielding team having dropped the maximum number of catches. There is simply no point in crying over the spilled milk now that the team is almost out of the tournament this season. However, it's rather time for CSK to instead play fearless cricket through the rest of the season while also trying out new players and combinations for future as per outcomes, as MSD also said. Remember, on the field, no defeat is ever fatal and no victory is ever final...Like MSD himself said long ago, "Don't blame others, improve yourself"...it's time for CSK to do exactly that...
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    3 mins
  • CSK's Roller Coaster Ride in IPL 2025 so far - from Dire Straits to Back to Winning Ways.

    CSK's Roller Coaster Ride in IPL 2025 so far - from Dire Straits to Back to Winning Ways.
    Apr 14 2025
    CSK's journey in IPL 2025 so far has been a roller coaster ride ranging from conceding a series of 5 consecutive losses which have sent the beleaguered 5 times champions to the bottom of the points table to their return to winning ways today finally against LSG. A dissection of their losses so far:- 1. Powerplay Woes: CSK has been the worst performing team in the powerplay through the IPL 2025 with the openers adopting a conservative approach when other teams virtually had swashbucklers firing on all cylinders scoring almost 60-65 runs on average. They were also unable to find gaps and score fours in powerplays. Only in the game against LSG, did they score 59 runs in the powerplay. 2 Batting Line-Up with Weak Middle Order: Players like Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, Ravichandran Ashwin and Deepak Hooda are woefully out of form creating a weak middle order, which, in addition, to low scoring rates in the powerplays, has made it impossible to chase 180 plus targets consistently with Jaddu & Dhoni buckling under immense pressure of required run rates at the fag end of their innings'. However, they finished brilliantly against LSG today, with Dhoni & Dube scoring 57 runs in the last 4.1 overs. Also, CSK lack explosive young guns like Priyansh Arya or Abhishek Sharma and the ones they have are not being given a chance. Rasheed's inclusion in the LSG game is a welcome addition and Vansh could also be tried. They also lack someone who could anchor the innings like a KL Rahul, Kohli or Pooran or Hetmeyer. Sam Curran could be included again in the playing XI for his batting & all round game and Conway could effectively play the sheet anchor role. 3 Fielding Errors & Dropped Catches: CSK has dropped almost 14 catches through their first 6 matches becoming the worst fielding side of the tournament so far with a successful catch percentage of 62% 4 Bowling Issues: Noor Ahmed, one of the tournament's most successful spinner, was introduced too late into play even on slow and turning wickets. Fast bowlers have generally bowled well but did not use variations effectively like use of slow cutters, Yorkers and bouncers as per the tracks to deceive, attack and not give pace to bowlers except Pattirana. Sloppy work by bowling coach and analysts. Hope they will fix some of these aspects going forward as the tournament rapidly moves towards the middle phase and pressure on CSK mounts to come good in a tournament which has been more or less forgettable so far. Hope they can stick to their hard found mojo...
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    5 mins
  • A Tale of Two Captains and their Historic T20 World Cup Wins for India - Tactical Play

    A Tale of Two Captains and their Historic T20 World Cup Wins for India - Tactical Play
    Jun 30 2024
    After a drought and wait of 17 long years, the T20 World Cup trophy is back in India with Rohit-Kohli and the Men in Blue finally managing to overcome their last hurdle without choking and succumbing to the pressure of expectations as had been happening with Team India since MSD and his troops laid their hands on the Champions Trophy in 2013. However, there has been a stark difference in the way a rookie Dhoni approached his T20 World Cup triumph of 2007 and how an almost veteran Rohit marshaled his troops to the ultimate victory. Let’s analyze the background contexts and the contrasting ways they scripted history in their own unique ways. First the pedigree comparisons, when Dhoni took the helm as the Captain of Team India in 2007, India was still dealing with and trying to come to terms with the crushing loss in the 2007’s ODI World Cup held in the West Indies under the leadership of Rahul Dravid, wherein, they bowed out of the tournament at the group stages itself. The Indian selectors; assured by Sachin Tendulkar’s correct judgment of Dhoni’s game sense and leadership potential ; brought Dhoni to the fore and entrusted him to lead India in the T20 World Cup held in September 2007. Thus, unlike Rohit, the firebrand Dhoni had no pressure of expectations on him and leading a team of rookies and some seasoned players from the front he created history and became MSD from just Dhoni. However, Rohit and Kohli, who took on the mantle of leadership from MSD as worthy and capable successors, had seemingly carried the burden of expectations in ICC tournaments and crumbled under that pressure, until now. Dhoni’s warrior-monk-like stoic temperament, Maverick approach to the game and nerves of steel, which could seemingly take any amount of pressure and still remain unfazed whatever be the occasion or situation, was unmatched and simply out of this world. However, the Rohit and Kohli-led team, after stumbling at the final frontier twice, in the 2023’s WTC and ODI World Cup finals, effectively demonstrated that they learnt the underlying common lesson and mastered it to ultimately hold their nerve and extract victory even from the jaws of an almost certain defeat in yesterday’s high-pressure & swinging final to bring the much-awaited joy to 1.4 billion Indians across the globe especially after the heartbreak of November 2023. Another key aspect of Dhoni’s approach to leadership and tactical play in 2007’s T20 WC was the instinctive & intuitive decision-making and almost a Maverickish approach to game play and resource deployment in-alignment with the situations. A former international coach even termed it as the ‘gambler’s streak’, however, personally, Maverick would be more appropriate in the context. The deployment of an untested Joginder Sharma to bowl the final over of an India-Pakistan World Cup final would almost be the ultimate gamble for any Indian Captain, with his neck, the world cup and almost the entire playing career at stake and on the line for the team. But he believed in his instincts & the ability to hold the nerve and took the call, in the interest of the team, as the situation demanded it as, according to him, the surface suited his kind of a bowler. It was akin to Rohit asking an untested Shivam Dube to bowl the final over against Killer Miller. That’s what made Dhoni into MSD! Further, without getting into any nitpicking and without taking any credit away; in yesterday’s final, Rohit seemed reactive and a little rigid in his tactical play albeit his usual brilliance. On a surface on which the spinners were not getting any kind of purchase at all from the outset; he chose to persist with his spinners who collectively bowled 9 overs from which they eventually conceded 109 runs which had almost brought Team India on to the verge of almost another defeat by the end of 15th over with South Africa needing just 30 runs of 30 balls with 6 wickets in hand. However, all's well that ends well. Kudos to Team India for Win.
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    5 mins
  • Happy Birthday to the True Leader & Legend forever MSD!

    Happy Birthday to the True Leader & Legend forever MSD!
    Jul 7 2023
    Messages reportedly have been simply flying in from all corners of the universe (including the aliens with signals received by NASA :) to wish the legend MSD on his 42nd birthday. Here's wishing the legend from our side: "May you Soar Forever, just like the unstoppable SR-71 Blackbird flying at Mach 3.2 at the very top of the stratosphere, continuing to give illumination & inspiration to everyone down below on Earth, as always, including, the ones yet to come." Stay blessed forever... Audio Credits: Indian Express' Audio Story covering the wishes coming MSD's way on his very special 7th day of the 7th month of the year...
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    1 min
  • "Will Follow him as a Soldier Knowing He can Never Send me on the Wrong Path" - Tushar Deshpande MSD

    "Will Follow him as a Soldier Knowing He can Never Send me on the Wrong Path" - Tushar Deshpande MSD
    Jul 5 2023
    After winning the IPL 2023 title, the first words which came from MSD in the dressing room to his comrades were, "hard work paid off but don't forget what we did right and what we did wrong as a lesson for the next season as shared by Shivam Dube and Tushar Deshpande in an interview given to the Indian Express. They both shared as to how MSD's intervention as the master tactician proved pivotal to a complete turnaround in their performances after the initial, wobbly starts they both had. It's almost like a case study in how MSD grooms young talent by constantly guiding and nudging them while also pointing out their mistakes & errors in the face publicly during the post match presentations. Such is the incredible connect and trust enjoyed by MSD over his subjects... Audio Credits: Audio story published originally by the Indian Express voiced by AI based on article by Devendra Pandey published on June 01, 2023 and available at https://www.google.com/amp/s/indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/what-did-ms-dhoni-tell-his-csk-team-mates-in-the-dressing-room-after-the-ipl-win-8638342/lite/ All rights reserved by the Indian Express for the story and the article. Also, now that Dhoni's birthday is just round the corner and given that all of us are seriously missing him, gift yourself a souvenir by grabbing a copy of the latest book on MSD, 'The M.S. Dhoni Way' available in paperback on Amazon at https://www.amazon.in/M-S-Dhoni-Way-Ladership-Masterclass/dp/B0C5XTR5V2
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    5 mins
  • "When MSD Truly Honoured the Spirit of the Game"

    "When MSD Truly Honoured the Spirit of the Game"
    Jul 5 2023
    Amid the growing furore & uproar over Johnny Bairstow's unusual dismissal in the second Test of the ongoing Ashes series, an incident direct ly related to it comes to mind instantly, wherein, MSD honoured the spirit of the game while keeping the rulebook aside. It happened around twelve years ago in the India's tour of England in the year 2011. The incident involved former England batsman Ian Bell who was in the same situation as Bairstow now but he was then called back by the Indian captain MS Dhoni after the bizarre run out in the second Test of India’s England tour in 2011 and upon requests by the English captain Andrew Strauss and the coach Andy Flower. Also, the gentle voice insisting for & backing the decision to do so was none other than the legend Sachin Tendulkar himself. Audio credits: Indian Express' Audio news story piece voiced by AI. Based on a news article published on July 04, 2023 and available at https://indianexpress-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/in-wake-of-bairstow-stumping-controversy-at-ashes-revisiting-when-ms-dhoni-showed-spirit-of-cricket-8713276/lite/?amp_gsa=1&_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16884939676948&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Findianexpress.com%2Farticle%2Fsports%2Fcricket%2Fin-wake-of-bairstow-stumping-controversy-at-ashes-revisiting-when-ms-dhoni-showed-spirit-of-cricket-8713276%2F All rights reserved by the Indian Express for the story and the article. Also, now that Dhoni's birthday is just round the corner and given that all of us are seriously missing him, gift yourself a souvenir by grabbing a copy of the latest book on MSD, 'The M.S. Dhoni Way' available in paperback on Amazon at https://www.amazon.in/M-S-Dhoni-Way-Ladership-Masterclass/dp/B0C5XTR5V2
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    2 mins
  • "It'll be My Gift to Fans"- MSD

    "It'll be My Gift to Fans"- MSD
    May 31 2023
    The Yellow Army is ecstatic once again and the entire nation electrified as MSD and the CSK have brought their 5th IPL trophy back home to Chennai in a truly deserving manner while comprehensively outclassing GT in the rain affected final. However, the best part was MSD's assurance that he would be coming back next year for another season of IPL before bidding adieu and said the it will be his gift to his fans. Listen to what he said to Harsha Bhogle. Also, now that the IPL is over and all of us are already missing Dhoni, take out sone time to unravel the secrets of MSD's greatness as a leader for yourself by reading our latest book 'The M.S. Dhoni Way' available in paperback on Amazon at https://www.amazon.in/M-S-Dhoni-Way-Ladership-Masterclass/dp/B0C5XTR5V2
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    1 min
  • "Will Always be there for CSK & Fans" - MSD

    "Will Always be there for CSK & Fans" - MSD
    May 24 2023
    The roaring lions ultimately slayed the Titans in their own Den at Chepauk yesterday after having lost both their league games to them this season. MSD's astuteness in bowler rotation, field placements and overall tactical game control on home turf was hawkish and brilliant as usual and simply too much for GT as they were comprehensively outplayed in all departments of the game. MSD also indicated that he is gonna be around with CSK for a long time to come whether as a player or part of thinktank/support staff and so fans are gonna see him around. CSK are into the final and almost waiting eagerly to lay their hands on their 5th trophy under an unmatched and one of the greatest captain the game has ever seen... For unraveling the secrets of MSD's greatness as a leader, grab your copy of the latest, just released book on MSD's leadership on Amazon at the link below:- The M.S. Dhoni Way https://www.amazon.in/M-S-Dhoni-Way-Ladership-Masterclass/dp/B0C5XTR5V2
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    5 mins
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