MS Dhoni the reason behind CSK playing well, says Harsha Bhogle

Chennai Super Kings were making their return in the Indian Premier League last year, after being banned for two years. Many analysts had written them off, especially because of the fact that most of the players like the skipper MS Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo, Suresh Raina, Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Harbhajan Singh and Imran Tahir are aged well above 30, and are well behind their glory days. But the Dhoni-led team proved everyone wrong and went on to win their third IPL trophy. They seem to be continuing in the same form this year also, as they have started with a bang, they have won three out three matches until now, and sit atop of the points table.

Bhogle is of the opinion that the individuals in the CSK team are not as good as their winning records tell, but as a team, they are a force to reckon with.

"It is just over ten days into the IPL and already teams would be looking at what CSK are doing right. For a start, the team is far better than the sum of the players within. You can go down that CSK side player by player, look at their current record and where they are in their careers, and you will believe they are vulnerable,” Harsha Bhogle wrote in his column for TOI.

Among those who have captained a side for at least 30 matches in the IPL, Dhoni is the most successful captain with a win percentage of over 60 in 162 matches. Bhogle credited Dhoni for CSK’s flattering record and compared his team with the Manchester United which was managed by Alex Ferguson, until 2013. With respect to captains from the same sport, he compared the former India captain to the out of reckoning Darren Sammy, who has won West Indies two World T20 titles, and Daren Ganga, who proved his credentials as a captain of Trinidad and Tobago.

"They are no stronger than other teams and there are at least a couple that appear more intimidating. But like Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, Dhoni's CSK just seem to find a way. I mentioned the names in that line intentionally. For many years now, I have been saying that a captain is worth two players in a T20 side. The success of Darren Sammy and Daren Ganga as T20 captains were proof of that. And I have no doubt that Dhoni is the reason why CSK are playing better than they look like they can," Bhogle added.

Dhoni has taken the Chennai based franchise to the playoff nine out of nine times and has won the trophy three times. Bhogle opined that the 2011 World Cup-winning captain defines each player’s role and gives them a long rope which ensures that the players deliver their best performance.

"His team looks the most relaxed on the ground. One of the players, upon moving franchises but seeming to have a lesser role at CSK, told me that his role is well defined and he knows exactly what is expected of him. I suspect Dhoni empowers players in this format, he backs them and doesn't chop and change too much because that breeds insecurity. And so he is getting match-winning performances from players who may not keep you awake at night," he wrote the 57 year old.

The Mahela Jayawardene-coached Mumbai Indians side are perennial slow starters and they have always taken time to find form and get going. The Mumbai camp will be hoping that this year is no different, as they have won a match and lost two until now. Bhogle had a few suggestions for the Rohit Sharma-led team, which are the only other side in the league with three titles to their name.

"Rohit Sharma, at MI, is a fine captain too, tactically astute and with a track record of delivering three IPL titles. He is in good form but he needs to get a bit more out of his bowlers, especially spinners. And maybe he needs to be a little less sentimental about selection," he concluded.