Former South African captain Faf du Plessis opened up about his experiences with MS Dhoni on Prakhar Gupta’s podcast, shedding light on the qualities that have made Dhoni one of the most successful captains in cricket history. He identified Dhoni’s sharp, intuitive grasp of the game on the field as his true “superpower.”
During his nine-season stint with the Chennai Super Kings, du Plessis shared a long and productive relationship with MS in the dressing room. Together, they won three Indian Premier League (IPL) titles before du Plessis took the helm at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2022. Having scored 4,773 runs across 154 IPL matches, the South African had a front-row seat to observe how Dhoni—a master strategist—devises brilliant plans, especially under high-pressure situations.
“He possesses a profound understanding of the game on the field,” says du Plessis.
On Prakhar Gupta’s podcast, du Plessis remarked, “He has an incredibly deep understanding of the game while on the field. He doesn’t like to over-plan; instead, he prefers to make decisions based on his instincts as the match unfolds. That was his greatest strength.
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He remained remarkably calm, allowing him to read both the game and the players effectively—as everyone knows, his temperament is exceptionally composed. It is this quality that I hope to learn from him and incorporate into my own captaincy.”
Will Dhoni play in IPL 2027?
Former Indian captain MS Dhoni has indicated that his participation in the 2027 IPL will depend on his fitness. Speaking at an event in Bengaluru, he mentioned that he would review his medical reports before December to determine whether he is fit enough to play another season. In a lighthearted moment, he described himself as an “old vintage car” that would require special care from the management to keep running smoothly on the road.
